[emoji95]Paul Alamoti signs with Penrith[emoji95]
Story from SMH
The Penrith Panthers have landed a significant coup, luring boom rookie Paul Alamoti to the club from the Bulldogs next season.
The back-to-back champions have been in discussions with Alamoti for the past week, agreeing to terms on a deal that will see the teenager fill the Panthers’ final spot in their top 30 roster for next season.
The 19-year-old, who debuted for the Bulldogs in round one this year, is being brought to the club to add depth to a backline that will be without Stephen Crichton after this season.
Alamoti has long been regarded as one of the most promising young players coming through the game’s junior system but struggled at times in his rookie season.
The 2022 NSW under-19s representative was dropped to NSW Cup at one stage during the year but managed to finish the season in first grade.
The Bulldogs have not been convinced he is the long-term answer at the club and haven’t put forward an offer. They have added the likes of Bronson Xerri, Crichton and Blake Taaffe to their backline for 2024.
Alamoti came through the Canterbury system as a young child. He played in the Canterbury district for local side Milperra Colts, rising through the ranks in Canterbury’s Harold Matthews, SG Ball and Jersey Flegg teams.
He will become the second Canterbury junior to leave the club in the past few months. The Bulldogs wouldn’t get into a bidding war for fellow local junior Jake Averillo, who attracted a lucrative offer from the Dolphins to join the Queensland club next year.
Crichton will leave the Panthers at the end of the season to link up with close friend and mentor Cameron Ciraldo at the embattled Bulldogs, who are in the middle of overhauling an underperforming roster to add some starch and experience to the squad.
The Bulldogs have managed to snare several Panthers players in recent years, luring the likes of Villiame Kikau, Matt Burton and Crichton to Belmore.
Alamoti is now heading in the other direction and could be in the starting team for the Panthers in round one next year.
Crichton’s departure will open a spot in the backline, however the Panthers will welcome back Taylan May, who missed all of this season after suffering an ACL injury in the World Club Challenge loss to St Helens back in February.
, probably end up being the Blues centre or utility.