Pup star Paul could be one of world's best centres: Addo-Carr

Four months ago, Josh Addo-Carr was running off the mercurial Latrell Mitchell and scoring tries for fun at the World Cup.

Four years ago, he was cashing in on opportunities created by the destructive running of Justin Olam at the Melbourne Storm.

Four weeks into the 2023 NRL season and ‘The Fox’ has paid Bulldogs centre Paul Alamoti the ultimate compliment, saying the 19-year-old ‘has the potential to be the best centre in the world’.

The pair have already formed a strong bond on the Bulldogs’ left edge, combining for two first-half tries against Wests Tigers to have fans on the packed Belmore Oval hill in raptures.

Addo-Carr has three tries to his name in 2023, giving him 121 for his career, and he had his rookie centre to thank for two of those on Sunday.

In just his third game at the top level, Alamoti showed class and composure beyond his years to have his experienced wingman singing his praises.

“I feel like I’ve been playing footy with Pauly my whole career,” Addo-Carr told media on Tuesday.

“I believe he is a first-grade football player and for him it’s just about playing consistent footy and that’s what a first-grade player does, plays his best every week, trains his best every day.

“He’s got a bright future in the Bulldogs jersey and he's got the potential to be one of the best centres in the world.

“He’s a wonderful talent and we love having him in the team.”

Long touted as a special talent, Alamoti has racked up three try assists and five tackle breaks in his three NRL games and is averaging 160 running metres per match.

The Milperra Colts junior has already had a taste of rep footy, scoring a try for NSW under 19s in their 32-4 win over Queensland in 2022, and all signs point to plenty more honours to come.

For now, though, Alamoti wants to keep a lid on the hype and focus on honing his skills and fine tuning his combination with the man outside him.

“I have dreamed of this moment my whole life and I just want to work hard every day and put my best foot forward for the team,” Alamoti said.

“It’s good having ‘Fox’ outside me. If you get in the open you just pass him the ball and let him run.

“That first try [on Sunday], I was looking at tryline and I was thinking ‘nah’. I would look pretty silly if I didn’t pass it to Josh. He was literally jogging next to me, I was sprinting, so just give him the ball and then support him.

“On the second try, the little skills I do every week, that helps, and to put it into place on the big stage is the most pleasing part of it.”

The next test for the Bulldogs comes on Sunday against the rejuvenated Warriors at Mt Smart Stadium, a ground the blue and whites haven't won at since 2011.

In 2022, the clash between the sides was the third match back at home for the Warriors after a three-year absence and they rode the emotion of a boisterous crowd to run away with a 42-18 win.

"It was a massive turnout when we went there last year and it'll be good to go back, it'll be mad," Addo-Carr said.

"It's no surprise we've started well with all the hard work we put in over the pre-season and Cam [Ciraldo] and the coaching staff put so much time into us connecting together and it's just about executing every week now.

"Cam has really brought us together as a group, really connected us on and off the field, and we’ve really got to know each other and it’s showing on the field how much we care for each other."