{{Short description|New Zealand rugby league footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |name = Zach Dockar-Clay |fullname = Zach Dockar-Clay |image = Zach Dockar-Clay.jpg |image_size = |position = {{rlp|HK|HB|FE}} |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|4|24|df=yes}}<ref name="penrith profile">{{cite web|title=Zach Dockar-Clay|url=http://www.penrithpanthers.com.au/team/profiles/zach-dockar-clay.html|publisher=penrithpanthers.com.au|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160429074809/http://www.penrithpanthers.com.au/team/profiles/zach-dockar-clay.html|archive-date=29 April 2016}}</ref> |birth_place = New Plymouth, New Zealand |height = {{convert|172|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref name="penrith profile" /> |weight = {{convert|88|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}<ref name="penrith profile" /> |club1 = {{nowrap|Hull Kingston Rovers}} |year1start = 2017 |year1end = |appearances1 = 19 |tries1 = 6 |goals1 = 10 |fieldgoals1 = 0 |points1 = 44 |club2 = {{nowrap|Canterbury Bulldogs}} |year2start = 2022 |year2end = |appearances2 = 14 |tries2 = 1 |goals2 = 0 |fieldgoals2 = 0 |points2 = 4 |club3 = Sydney Roosters |year3start = 2024 |year3end = 25 |appearances3 = 22 |tries3 = 1 |goals3 = 0 |fieldgoals3 = 0 |points3 = 4 |club4 = Manly Sea Eagles |year4start = 2026 |year4end = present |appearances4 = 1 |tries4 = 0 |goals4 = 0 |fieldgoals4 = 0 |points4 = 0 | teamA = {{nowrap|NSW Residents}} | yearAstart = 2016 | yearAend = | appearancesA = 1 | triesA = 0 | goalsA = 0 | fieldgoalsA = 0 | pointsA = 0 |teamB = {{nowrap|Māori All Stars}} |yearBstart = 2023 |yearBend = |appearancesB = 2 |triesB = 1 |goalsB = 0 |fieldgoalsB = 0 |pointsB = 4 | updated = 16 May 2026 |source = <ref>[http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/zach-dockar-clay/summary.html Rugby League Project]</ref> | module = {{infobox person | embed = yes | relatives = Alec Dockar (great-grandfather) }} }}
'''Zach Dockar-Clay''' (born 24 April 1995) is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a {{rlp|hk}} for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in the NRL.
He previously played for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League (NRL). He also played for Hull Kingston Rovers in the RFL Championship and Super League Qualifiers.
==Early life== Born in New Plymouth, New Zealand, Dockar-Clay is of Māori descent (from the Ngāti Porou and Te Āti Awa iwi).<ref>{{cite web|last=Tiananga|first=Tamati|date=14 October 2016|title=NZ Māori determined to spoil NZ Residents reign|url=http://www.maoritelevision.com/news/sport/nz-maori-determined-spoil-nz-residents-reign|publisher=Māori Television|access-date=21 September 2017}}</ref> He is the great-grandson of Great Britain and England rugby league representative Alec Dockar.<ref>{{cite web|last=Westmorland|first=Gareth|date=12 July 2017|title=Zach Dockar-Clay: I'd love to remain at Hull KR long-term|url=http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/rugby-league-news/zach-dockar-clay-id-love-188444|publisher=Hull Daily Mail|access-date=15 September 2017}}</ref>
He played his junior rugby league for the Bell Block Marist Dragons.<ref name="penrith profile" />
==Playing career== ===Parramatta Eels=== Dockar-Clay played 78 games for the Parramatta Eels in the National Youth Competition from 2012 to 2015, scoring 34 tries, kicking 40 goals and 1 field goal.<ref>{{cite web|title=D|url=https://nycdatabase.org/players/d/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304003647/http://nycdatabase.org/players/d/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=4 March 2016|publisher=NYC Database|access-date=21 September 2017}}</ref> Dockar-Clay represented the Junior Kiwis on three occasions between 2013 and 2015, captaining the team in 2015. In June 2015, he signed a contract with the Penrith Panthers starting in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|date=10 June 2015|title=Panthers sign Quartet of Young Guns|url=http://www.penrithpanthers.com.au/news/2015/06/10/panthers_sign_quarte.html|publisher=penrithpanthers.com.au|access-date=21 September 2017}}</ref>
===Penrith Panthers=== In February 2016, Dockar-Clay was selected as a member of the Panthers' squad for the 2016 Auckland Nines pre-season tournament.<ref>{{cite web|date=22 January 2016|title=Panthers name Auckland Nines squad|url=https://www.nrl.com/panthers-name-auckland-nines-squad/tabid/10874/newsid/91427/default.aspx|publisher=NRL.com|access-date=21 September 2017}}</ref> He captained Penrith's New South Wales Cup team throughout 2016.<ref>{{cite web|last=Brady|first=Jack|date=2 September 2016|title=Dockar-Clay survives Panthers' revolving door|url=http://www.nrl.com/dockar-clay-survives-panthers-revolving-door/tabid/10874/newsid/100880/default.aspx|publisher=NRL.com|access-date=21 September 2017}}</ref> On 15 October 2016, Dockar-Clay represented the New Zealand Māori against the New Zealand Residents.<ref>{{cite web|last=Goile|first=Aaron|date=15 October 2016|title=NZ Residents prove too slick for NZ Maori XIII in rugby league clash in Huntly|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/85270089/nz-residents-prove-too-slick-for-nz-maori-xiii-in-rugby-league-clash-in-huntly|publisher=stuff.co.nz|access-date=21 September 2017}}</ref> In February 2017, Dockar-Clay was selected to play in the 2017 Auckland Nines.<ref>{{cite web|date=4 February 2017|title=2017 Downer NRL Auckland Nines squads|url=http://www.nrl.com/2017-downer-nrl-auckland-nines-squads/tabid/10874/newsid/103308/default.aspx|publisher=NRL.com|access-date=21 September 2017}}</ref> In March 2017, he signed with Hull Kingston Rovers until the end of 2018, effective immediately.<ref>{{cite web|date=31 March 2017|title=Dockar-Clay makes Rovers move|url=http://www.hullkr.co.uk/on-the-pitch/news/article/dockar-clay-makes-rovers-move|publisher=hullkr.co.uk|access-date=21 September 2017}}</ref>
===Hull KR=== Dockar-Clay made his professional rugby league debut for Hull KR on 10 April 2017 against the Swinton Lions, scoring a try.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gordon|first=James|date=10 April 2017|title=Dockar-Clay praised after debut try for Hull KR|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/dockar-clay-praised-debut-try-hull-kr/|publisher=Love Rugby League|access-date=21 September 2017}}</ref> He played 19 games in his first season at the club, scoring 6 tries and kicking 10 goals.
===Townsville Blackhawks=== In November 2017, after helping Hull KR to gain promotion to the Super League, Dockar-Clay was granted an early release from his contract and returned to Australia, signing with the Townsville Blackhawks for the 2018 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blackhawkstsv.com.au/2017/11/24/zach-dockar-clay-joins-mendi-blackhawks/|title=Zach Dockar-Clay joines the Mendi Blackhawks|publisher=Townsville Blackhawks}}</ref>
===Blacktown Workers=== In 2019, Dockar-Clay signed a contract to join Manly Cup NSW side the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2019/03/12/canterbury-cup-nsw-team-lists--round-one/|title=Canterbury Cup NSW Team Lists Round One|website=www.nswrl.com.au}}</ref>
===Western Suburbs=== In 2021, he signed for NSW Cup side Western Suburbs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.weststigers.com.au/teams/nsw-cup/western-suburbs-magpies/zach-dockar-clay/?_ga=2.73832730.949030638.1615762951-949030638.1615762951/|title=Player profile|website=www.weststigers.com.au}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
===Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs=== In 2022, Dockar-Clay signed for Canterbury. Dockar-Clay spent the start of the season playing for the clubs NSW Cup side. In round 11 of the 2022 NRL season, he made his NRL debut against the Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2022-wests-tigers-vs-canterburybankstown-bulldogs-live-updates-supercoach-scores-video-brent-naden-matt-burton/news-story/ef724754608ae85004d72fcd4a554b73/|title=‘Going up by the minute’: Tiger’s perfect Dolphins audition in fitting end to Dogs’ brutal week|website=www.foxsports.com.au}}</ref> Dockar-Clay made a total of 14 appearances for Canterbury throughout the 2022 season which were all from the interchange bench. The club would finish 12th on the table and miss the finals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/rugby-league/news/nrl-2022-canterbury-bulldogs-season-review/wapmyddrbadukioadiybr1fs/|title=NRL 2022: Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs season review|website=www.sportingnews.com}}</ref>
===North Sydney=== In November 2022, Dockar-Clay signed a contract to join NSW Cup side North Sydney ahead of the 2023 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.northsydneybears.com.au/2023-nsw-cup-signings-tracker/zach-dockar-clay/|title=Dockar Clay signs for North Sydney|website=www.northsydneybears.com.au}}</ref> Dockar-Clay was part of the North Sydney side which claimed the Minor Premiership and reached the 2023 NSW Cup grand final against South Sydney. Dockar-Clay captained the side in their 22-18 loss.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2023-blake-taaffe-zach-dockarclay-dean-hawkins-south-sydney-rabbitohs-north-sydney-bears-nsw-cup-grand-final-stats-result/news-story/befffd38099aec69314f2ff2171b9376/|title=Taaffe’s statement as Souths end 40-year drought; veteran’s captain’s knock: Reserves Wrap|website=www.foxsports.com.au}}</ref>
===Sydney Roosters=== Ahead of the 2024 NRL season, Dockar-Clay joined the Sydney Roosters. In round 6, he was named to make his club debut against Newcastle. Dockar-Clay would play off the interchange bench in their 22-20 victory.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2024-round-6-teams-lists-ins-and-outs-team-selections-knights-vs-roosters-broncos-vs-dolphins-rabbitohs-vs-sharks/news-story/e97cc6b987071cb97fef7bab595cbdcf/|title=Souths’ desperate axing amid NRL injury chaos, Walsh back for Broncos: Rd 6 Teams|website=www.foxsports.com.au}}</ref> On 21 May, the Sydney Roosters hit back at claims that Dockar-Clay had been taking illegal substances on a live stream along with fellow players Brandon Smith, Terrell May, Naufahu Whyte and Spencer Leniu. The club released a statement which read “The Sydney Roosters have been made aware of a small clip from a longer live stream that some on social media have claimed identifies behaviour that breaches NRL rules. “The clip reveals no use of illicit substances or any other breach of NRL rules, however some see fit to make that grossly distorted and clearly damaging claim".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2024-sydney-roosters-statement-live-stream-brandon-smith-spencer-leniu-terrell-may-instagram-club-responds-club-statement-video/news-story/a9ec5e07bc2d2ecc0a6c17d74508b500/|title=‘Not right’: Tedesco defends teammates as Roosters blast ‘grossly distorted’ claims over viral video|website=www.foxsports.com.au}}</ref>
=== 2025 === Dockar-Clay was one of five players farewelled by the Roosters at the end of their season. He was linked with a move to Manly.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chalk |first=Ethan Lee |date=2025-09-18 |title=Sydney Roosters confirm five player departures |url=https://www.zerotackle.com/sydney-roosters-confirm-five-player-departures-226979/ |access-date=2025-09-18 |website=Zero Tackle |language=en-US}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== *[http://www.hullkr.co.uk/on-the-pitch/first-team/zach-dockar-clay Hull Kingston Rovers profile]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dockar-Clay, Zach}} Category:1995 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century New Zealand sportsmen Category:Blacktown Workers players Category:Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs players Category:Sydney Roosters players Category:Hull Kingston Rovers players Category:Junior Kiwis players Category:New South Wales Residents rugby league team players Category:New Zealand Māori rugby league players Category:New Zealand Māori rugby league team players Category:New Zealand people of English descent Category:New Zealand rugby league players Category:Ngāti Porou people Category:North Sydney Bears captains Category:North Sydney Bears NSW Cup players Category:Rugby league halfbacks Category:Rugby league hookers Category:Rugby league players from New Plymouth Category:Te Āti Awa people Category:Townsville Blackhawks players Category:Western Suburbs Magpies NSW Cup players Category:Rugby league five-eighths