Player Bio
Promising winger Haizyn Mellars is the latest son of a former Warrior to have the chance of completing the first father-son NRL double in the One New Zealand Warriors’ history.
The 193cm, 100kg, 21-year-old has been signed from the South Sydney Rabbitohs on a three-year NRL contract until the end of the 2028 season.
He was born in Auckland when his Wellington-born father Vince Mellars was at the Warriors in 2003-2004 while his mother Charmian is a top former basketballer who represented the Tall Blacks at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Haizyn Mellars has come through South Sydney’s pathways programme making his New South Wales debut this year, scoring seven tries in nine games.
“Haizyn has been in our sights for a while. He’s a young winger with special ability as he has shown through the grades,” said One New Zealand Warriors general manager recruitment, pathways and development Andrew McFadden.
“He comes from an impressive sporting background with his mother and father both being high achievers at elite level and he is really keen to come back to New Zealand.”
Mellars says the lure of being back home and the Warriors’ direction as a club were major factors in his decision to sign.
“First and foremost, I’m excited for the opportunity to come back home,” said Haizyn.
“Joining the Warriors is a blessing and is something that means a lot to me and my family.
"After talking with Webby (coach Andrew Webster) and seeing the club’s direction, it’s where I want to be.
“I’m excited to get back home and develop my game alongside the coaching staff and the boys in particular and also learn off some of those senior guys.”
In his nine New South Wales Cup games this year, Mellars has averaged 120 metres and made 40 tackles breaks.
“Haizyn has so much going for him and we’re excited to bring him into the club,” said One New Zealand Warriors head coach Andrew Webster,
“He’ll add depth and he’ll be able to learn from the experienced players he’ll have around him in the outside backs.”
Mellars traces a strong rugby league connection through his family.
After making a try-scoring debut against the Sharks as Warrior #106 in 2003, Vince Mellars went on to play for Cronulla Sutherland and the Sydney Roosters followed by a stint in rugby union when he played for Canterbury before he resumed his rugby league career in the Super League. Vince’s father Peter, a front rower, toured Australia and Papua New Guinea with the Kiwis in 1982 while Peter’s brother Tam played for Wellington.
Until now the Warriors have never had an instance of a father and son playing for the club at NRL level.
Previously Warrior #51 Kevin Iro’s son KL, now with Cronulla Sutherland, represented the Warriors at under-20 and NSW Cup level while Warrior #18 Joe Vagana’s son Isaiah, who’s with Wakefield in the Super League, was a regular in both grades as well while he also played in an NRL trial.
Earlier this month Warrior #55 Ali Lauitiiti’s daughter Ivana made her NRLW debut to give the club its first case of a father and daughter making their top-level debut for the club.
Now Mellars and halfback Jett Cleary – father Ivan (Warrior #73) – are in line to provide the first instances of father-son NRL doubles for the Warriors.
The 193cm, 100kg, 21-year-old has been signed from the South Sydney Rabbitohs on a three-year NRL contract until the end of the 2028 season.
He was born in Auckland when his Wellington-born father Vince Mellars was at the Warriors in 2003-2004 while his mother Charmian is a top former basketballer who represented the Tall Blacks at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Haizyn Mellars has come through South Sydney’s pathways programme making his New South Wales debut this year, scoring seven tries in nine games.
“Haizyn has been in our sights for a while. He’s a young winger with special ability as he has shown through the grades,” said One New Zealand Warriors general manager recruitment, pathways and development Andrew McFadden.
“He comes from an impressive sporting background with his mother and father both being high achievers at elite level and he is really keen to come back to New Zealand.”
Mellars says the lure of being back home and the Warriors’ direction as a club were major factors in his decision to sign.
“First and foremost, I’m excited for the opportunity to come back home,” said Haizyn.
“Joining the Warriors is a blessing and is something that means a lot to me and my family.
"After talking with Webby (coach Andrew Webster) and seeing the club’s direction, it’s where I want to be.
“I’m excited to get back home and develop my game alongside the coaching staff and the boys in particular and also learn off some of those senior guys.”
In his nine New South Wales Cup games this year, Mellars has averaged 120 metres and made 40 tackles breaks.
“Haizyn has so much going for him and we’re excited to bring him into the club,” said One New Zealand Warriors head coach Andrew Webster,
“He’ll add depth and he’ll be able to learn from the experienced players he’ll have around him in the outside backs.”
Mellars traces a strong rugby league connection through his family.
After making a try-scoring debut against the Sharks as Warrior #106 in 2003, Vince Mellars went on to play for Cronulla Sutherland and the Sydney Roosters followed by a stint in rugby union when he played for Canterbury before he resumed his rugby league career in the Super League. Vince’s father Peter, a front rower, toured Australia and Papua New Guinea with the Kiwis in 1982 while Peter’s brother Tam played for Wellington.
Until now the Warriors have never had an instance of a father and son playing for the club at NRL level.
Previously Warrior #51 Kevin Iro’s son KL, now with Cronulla Sutherland, represented the Warriors at under-20 and NSW Cup level while Warrior #18 Joe Vagana’s son Isaiah, who’s with Wakefield in the Super League, was a regular in both grades as well while he also played in an NRL trial.
Earlier this month Warrior #55 Ali Lauitiiti’s daughter Ivana made her NRLW debut to give the club its first case of a father and daughter making their top-level debut for the club.
Now Mellars and halfback Jett Cleary – father Ivan (Warrior #73) – are in line to provide the first instances of father-son NRL doubles for the Warriors.
