Born: August 18, 1910 - Thames
Died: June 14, 1967 - Wellington
Test record: 5 Tests (1932, 1936-37) - 10 goals (20 points)
Tours: 1930 tour of Australia
Ultra-versatile Puti Tipene 'Steve' Watene left behind a legacy as the first Māori rugby league captain of New Zealand, while his service as a coach and administrator contributed to his induction into the NZRL Legends of League in 2008.
Watene started out with the City club in the Auckland competition in 1929, debuting for his province against Northland that year just before turning 19. He toured Australia with the New Zealand team in 1930, playing nine games on the wing (no Tests were scheduled) and scoring four tries.
In 1932, he was selected for his Test debut at fullback against the touring England team and kicked three goals as a winger in the second Test.
The strapping Watene returned to the New Zealand line-up in 1936 as loose forward and captain, kicking three goals in the first Test against England and four in the second clash. He also slotted five goals for Auckland in hard-fought loss to the tourists. Watene was at the forefront Manukau's reformation in 1936, leading the club to Fox Memorial and Roope Roosters success in its first year.
Watene skippered New Zealand from fullback in a 12-8 loss to Australia in the 1937 series opener, then played at lock in New Zealand Māori's 16-5 win over the visitors (George Nepia was fullback and captain, and replaced Watene in the team for the second Test).
He played for Newton Rangers in 1938 but later returned to Manukau and was part of the side that claimed a historic sweep of the Fox Memorial, Rukutai Shield, Roope Rooster and Stormont Shield in 1943. The veteran captain-coached Newton in 1944 before hanging up the boots.
Watene was on the NZRL council and moved into politics, elected to the Mount Wellington Borough Council and Petone Borough Council, as well as serving on the New Zealand Māori Council.
A Labour Party MP for four years, he suffered a heart attack and died in Parliament Buildings during a Maori Affairs Committee meeting in 1967. The Watene whānau presented the Steve Watene Memorial Trophy to the NZRL two years later and was subsequently awarded to the NZRL Player of the Year.
Watene's great-grandson, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, played 13 Tests for New Zealand from 2016-22 (including as fullback and captain in a win over Australia in 2018) and turned out in more than 200 NRL games for Penrith, Canterbury and the Warriors.