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He is one of the most hyped and proudly produced Bulldogs juniors to emerge in years, with some going as far as to declare there hasn’t been a more anticipated rookie to wear Canterbury colours since Sonny Bill Williams arrived on the scene like a cyclone in 2004.
That was the same year Bulldogs young gun Paul Alamoti was born.
And here we are 19 years down the track and another hulking thunderbolt is ready to stake his claim for NRL fame.
New coach Cameron Ciraldo has wasted no time making clear his intentions for this muscled up teenager who has caused havoc at the junior rep levels.
Alamoti has been named in the centres for Sunday’s trial against Canberra ahead of the season when he is expected to cement his spot in the top grade.
He is a Milperra Colts junior who went to school at Marists Brothers Kogarah, (the same school as another local made good Josh Reynolds), while Alamoti still lives at home with his father Moti and three siblings at Riverwood.
That’s where this teenager is apparently as happy helping with the cooking and cleaning duties as he is demolishing opposition defences with his wrecking ball style of play that has already earned plenty of adulation. He also scored an impressive HSC result.
Bulldogs fans haven’t exactly had an abundance of local juniors to cheer in recent times, but the hype around Alamoti looks legitimate.
The Bulldogs boast a star-studded list of youngsters who have debuted for the club in the 2000s, but few have been fair dinkum home grown talent like this bloke.
The honour roll of the Bulldogs most celebrated rookies to emerge in the 2000s includes mostly imported talent.
Braith Anasta (2000) was a Souths junior, Johnathan Thurston (2002) a Queenslander, Roy Asotasi (2002) another Kiwi like SBW (2004), Ben Barba (2008) another Queenslander, Jamal Idris (2008) came down from Forster early, while Reynolds (2011) was locally produced, and David Klemmer (2013) signed as a 15-year-old from the All Saints Toongabbie Tigers.
News Corp revealed a couple of years ago how Roosters supremo Nick Politis was sitting with Alamoti’s agent David Riolo and former Rooster Mitch Aubusson at a SG Ball match.
That day Alamoti pretty much beat up the young Chooks on his own, scoring two tries and setting up a couple more.
At that time Alamoti was still young enough to be playing Harold Matthews Cup.
But while Politis was understandably impressed with what he saw as he walked away chatting to Riolo, the reality is that it was nothing more than an innocent catch up, with Aubusson also one of Riolo’s long-term clients.
But it certainly got the tongues of the Bulldogs’ faithful wagging, and the club’s honchos more than a little nervous, because within days they’d locked him up to a longer and more lucrative contract.
Alamoti then got thrown into a NRL trial against Newcastle last year ahead of his time but was towelled up by veteran Dane Gagai.
But this time round he is a year older although still young enough to be eligible for SG Ball but you just have to look at his physical presence to know he won’t be manhandled any longer.
The mail is considered a certainty to lock down a centre position this season if he stays healthy.
Alamoti did have an injury troubled 2022 season but finished strongly, with good judges adamant he looked more than ready to take the next step.
From daily telecrap
