‘My purpose is the old man’: Dad’s sacrifices drive rise of young Bulldog after loss of mum

Every time Paul Alamoti runs onto the field, he thinks of his parents.

There’s his father, Soane, watching from the stands, while mum, Nita, has a much higher vantage point.

“I lost my mum when I was seven and dad took on both the father and mother role,” said Alamoti, whose mother died of breast cancer. “He’s doing his best; he’s the rock of our family.

“It’s about giving back for what he’s done for me, it’s a reflection of his hard work. Without him, I wouldn’t be here today.”

Alamoti is where he always dreamed of being – a regular in the NRL. The 19-year-old has already shown enough in his first four Canterbury appearances for Josh Addo-Carr to suggest he could become one of the best centres in the game.

It’s a rapid rise that could have happened sooner. If not for injuries, Alamoti could have made his NRL debut last year, or perhaps, as was the case with Joseph Suaalii, as a 17-year-old. To the Bulldogs’ credit, they played the long game with a prospect already earning comparisons to Sonny Bill Williams.

Paul Alamoti has made an impressive start to his NRL career.Credit:NRL Photos

The Sun-Herald interviewed Alamoti twice for this story: the first time was before his under-19s State of Origin debut for NSW in June and again ahead of Sunday’s clash with the Warriors in Auckland. On both occasions he spoke of his family being the driving force in his life.

“What’s my purpose? It’s probably the same as my ‘why’,” he said “We spoke about it as a squad and my purpose is the old man.

“He’s been a single parent growing up and I’ve seen him working tirelessly for long hours. I’ve seen him do things that I admire and that drives me every day to work hard. When things are getting tough, he is my why.

“I’ve seen him work long hours, wake up in the morning. He drives me, every day since coming here, to put my best foot forward for the team. Every day.”

Rising Bulldogs star Paul Alamoti (centre) with his family, including dad Soane (second from left).

Alamoti’s work ethic comes from his father; Soane wakes up at 3am most days for his catering job at the airport. It’s what he’s had to do to provide for his four children – Paul being the eldest.

“It’s a tough gig but, hopefully, I can pay him back with what he deserves,” Alamoti said of his father, who moved to Australia from Tonga in 1996.

“He’s my biggest driving force. The things that I’ve seen him do growing up for me and what he has done for me and my siblings has given me the opportunity to succeed.

“That’s what drives me every day.

“Every time I run out, I get that good feeling knowing my dad is in the crowd. Just the joy that he has in his heart. Even after the games when I see him, there’s so much joy.”

Alamoti’s early success – he is already credited with three try assists in three games and averages 160 running metres – also brought joy to an extended family that knows him only as “Brandy”.

“When he was really young, he had a really bad cough,” said first cousin Atelea Vea, whose NRL career included stints at the Sharks, Storm and Dragons.

“My mum gave him a shot of brandy and he got better. Ever since then we’ve called him Brandy.

“He was still a baby, a toddler. Everyone would be saying, ‘Paul is doing so well’ and me and my cousins were like, ‘Who the hell is this Paul?’”

Paul Alamoti in action for the NSW under-19s in 2022.Credit:NRL Photos

Influential people know exactly who he is now. Williams recently said he could see a bit of himself in the Milperra Colts junior, who has played in the lower grades with his cousin, Phillip Makatoa.

“I have actually seen Paul play quite a bit; I know what he’s about,” SBW said. “He’s got that big left-foot, right-foot [step] in the centres and a big enough frame to probably play in the back row.”

Williams was asked to present Alamoti and fellow debutant Jacob Preston with their game-day jerseys before their NRL debuts in round one, but politely declined due to a prior commitment. Instead, he addressed the entire squad at Belmore, where his stories resonated with Alamoti.

“To be in that room where I was able to listen to him – everyone dreams of being a Sonny Bill or just idolises him – is a privilege,” Alamoti said.

Alamoti played rugby and basketball at a representative junior level, but league was always his first love.

“I remember we would all go to our uncle’s place and he would be there from Friday to Sunday just playing footy in the backyard, playing knee footy in the lounge room,” Vea said.

“I’ve seen him grow up now and achieve all these things, but I still see that little kid holding his plastic bag with his clothes, ready to go home after a weekend with his cousins. He’s definitely gone through his own adversity and unfortunately had to go through that and develop.

“I’ve never lost my mum, so I can’t imagine what that would be like, but he has definitely come through his own hurdles. It makes me so much more proud of him to see him get to where he is now.”

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