The Bulldogs have pulled off an early coup, signing highly touted young halfback Zain Alameddine from arch-rivals Parramatta for the 2026 season.
Alameddine played for the Eels’ Harold Matthews Cup team this year and has drawn comparisons to Benji Marshall for his electrifying footwork, stepping game, and flashy ball-playing skills.
He is the younger brother of Eels winger Mohamed Alameddine, but next season he will line up in the Bulldogs’ blue and white in the SG Ball U19 competition.
The signing continues the Bulldogs’ recent push to target talented playmakers from rival clubs, following acquisitions like Alex Conti, Cassius Tia, and Aaymon Fitzgibbon.
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The Bulldogs did, however, lose Joseph O’Neill to the Dragons this month, highlighting the ongoing competition for junior talent across the NRL.
Alameddine’s arrival is designed to potentially complement rising superstar Lachlan Galvin down the track, with blue-chip halfback prospect Mitchell Woods also in the mix for a long-term role at No.7.
Questions remain over Matt Burton’s future at the club, with both he and Galvin appearing best suited to No.6, making Alameddine’s addition a key piece for the Bulldogs’ junior pathway and possibly their future.
The signing strengthens the Bulldogs’ playmaking depth and signals their intent to continue developing a strong roster of young talent ready for NRL opportunities in the coming years.
With so many highly touted young playmakers now at the kennel, it could be an exciting decade ahead for the Bulldogs faithful.