BREAKING NEWS: ‘No one wanted him’: How $250k Panthers grand final hero exposed rival clubs’ big blunder

He was close to the best player on the field in this year’s NRL grand final, but it was only just over a year ago when outside back Paul Alamoti’s future was very much up in the air.

When the Bulldogs’ 2023 season ended last year, the highly touted schoolboy talent didn’t yet have a contract for 2024 and beyond.

Considering the Dogs had signed

Alamoti was a Bulldogs junior when the club snared his signature in 2021, even playing in the club’s SG Ball (under 19) side that year as a 17-year-old.

He debuted in 2023, but would only play one season with the Dogs after the Panthers signed him to a one-year prove-it deal in September of last year.

“I saw him play as a kid and he was outstanding in junior Origin games a few years ago and at the Bulldogs last year … I was surprised we even had a chance,” Panthers coach Ivan Cleary told NRL.com when discussing Alamoti in the lead up to the grand final.

Heading into this season, Alamoti was behind Izack Tago and Taylan May on the depth chart but when May was stood down for charges relating to domestic violence, Alamoti was called upon.

After impressing in limited NRL action, the Panthers were quick to lock down Alamoti for another year.

He would miss some time after fracturing his arm in Round 20, but would return just before finals and prove to be a crucial part of Penrith’s fourth-straight premiership.

NRL360 co-host Braith Anasta labelled Penrith’s pick up of Alamoti as a “magnificent buy”.

“He’s had huge raps on him from schoolboys. He was the man. But he just didn’t reach his potential at the Bulldogs, although he’s only young but he didn’t and they were paying significant money for him for his ago and he just plateaued a bit,” Anasta said.

“He was incredible yesterday and he turned out to be a magnificent buy.

“This game will change his life because he’s always had the potential but this game here will change his life forever as he knows he can do it on the big stage and he’s only going to get better.”

centres Stephen Crichton and Bronson Xerri for 2024, it appeared Alamoti had played his last game for Canterbury.

It had been a somewhat disappointing debut NRL season for Alamoti, who played 19 games for the 15th placed Bulldogs, so even despite the potential and his tender age (19 at the time), teams weren’t rushing to call Alamoti’s agent Michael Hudson.

Instead, as The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield revealed, it was Hudson who was reaching out to NRL clubs on behalf of his client.

”This Alamoti, Gus and Cameron Ciraldo didn’t want him last year. Understand why as they had signed Stephen Crichton and Bronson Xerri,” Rothfield said on NRL360.

“Michael Hudson rang and emailed every club to say that he was available. He was asking for better coin but no one wanted him

Alamoti is reportedly playing on just $250,000, which is half of what he was on at the Bulldogs.

“He went to Penrith for half his Bulldogs contract. Why did Ivan Cleary and that outfit in Penrith have the vision to know that he can aim up in big games,” Rothfield said.

The Australian’s Brent Read believes that it helps that Alamoti signed with a team like the Panthers instead of another club who may not have been able to get the best out of him.

“He needed them more than they needed him. They helped him become the player a lot of people thought he’d be,” Read said.

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