Sonny side up: SBW returns to Belmore to inspire latest 'Dogs sensation

New Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo hopes teenage centre Paul Alamoti can have a similar impact to Sonny Bill Williams 20 seasons ago after asking the dual code international to speak with him ahead of his NRL debut.

Williams, who famously walked out on Canterbury during the 2008 season to play rugby union in France, returned to Belmore earlier this year to address the players and was invited by Ciraldo last week to talk with Alamoti and fellow rookie Jake Preston about his highly anticipated 2004 debut.

While Williams played most of his career in the second-row, he debuted as an 18-year-old centre in the opening round match against Parramatta and announced himself as a future superstar by helping the Bulldogs to a 48-14 triumph.

“We just bought him in behind closed doors to get him to talk to Paul and Jake Preston before their debuts,” Ciraldo said.

Sonny obviously burst onto the scene in round one early in his career and he played in the centres on that day.

We have got Paul Alamoti debuting in the centres and Jake Preston as a backrower so we wanted him to talk to those guys about his experiences.

“He came in and talked about a range of things, he was incredible. It was really good to have Sonny back at the club and just for our guys to ask questions, and learn from a guy like him, was so beneficial.”

Canterbury officials have considered Alamoti to be a star in the making for some time and he will be a member of the club’s new left edge featuring Matt Burton, Viliame Kikau and Josh Addo-Carr in Saturday’s clash with Manly at 4 Pines Stadium.

Burton and Kikau played alongside each other in Penrith’s 2021 premiership winning team and Ciraldo said the Fiji star had taken Alamoti under his wing during the pre-season.

The Bulldogs have a young and largely inexperienced backline but Ciraldo, who also transferred from Penrith during the off-season, is excited about their attacking potency on both edges, with Jake Averillo to play right centre.

“I think Jake can be an elite centre,” Ciraldo said. “I probably thought that before getting here and have thought that even more since watching him here.

“I just think that if he can play to his potential in the centres, and show what he has showed us all summer, he is going to be among the top echelon players in that position.

“He has played a few different positions, but he grew up as a centre and I just saw him as a natural right centre. He has shown that in the pre-season. He is going to spend some time there and he will grow with that. The sky is the limit for someone like Jake.”

Averillo, who has played every backline position in his 54 NRL appearances, is still just 22 years of age, while Alamoti is 19, winger Jacob Kiraz is 21, fullback Hayze Perham is 23 and halfback Kyle Flanagan is 24.

Burton is also 22 but Ciraldo has no hesitation in letting him call the shots on the field in his role as co-captain with hooker Reed Mahoney after growing in confidence during last year’s World Cup campaign for Australia and playing State of Origin.

“He has matured,” Ciraldo said. “He was a quiet, young guy that I worked with before and he has been made captain of this club for a reason.

“I just think it is the evolution of Matt Burton.

“He has come in, he is really focused on leadership, he hasn’t tried to be anyone other than himself but he has clearly grown into his role and become more confident in his role, and he is starting to talk and take more ownership of the team.

“Him and Reed are the captains on the field, and they are both bring different qualities to the team but Matt plays in a really important position and he needs to own the game plan - and he is ready for that.”

The influence of the Panthers at Belmore this season extends further than Burton, Kikau and Ciraldo, with rookie prop Jayden Tanner also in the squad to play Manly after joining Canterbury on a train-and-trial contract.

With England prop Luke Thompson suffering an ankle injury at training that will sideline him until later in the season and Tevita Pangai jnr, Chris Patolo and Sam Hughes also injured, the Bulldogs have received an exemption for Tanner to make his NRL debut against the Sea Eagles.

“I’ve had him at Penrith previously and he is a great kid who works hard so he gets his opportunity, and he has shown to us over the off-season that he is ready,” Ciraldo said.

“We are missing a few front-rowers but we are really excited that Jayden gets to debut. He has been waiting a few years.

“He works hard, and he loves the tough stuff. He has a good tackle technique, and I am pretty sure that when the guys are sitting next to him in the dressing room, they will have full confidence in him.”