Bulldogs junior plays despite brother benched over gang war concerns

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs rugby league club is permitting promising junior player Zain Alameddine to continue playing, even as his brother has been sidelined due to safety concerns stemming from familial ties to Sydney's Alameddine crime family.

Zain Alameddine, a five-eighth for the Bulldogs, played on Saturday in the Ron Massey Cup. His brother, Mohamed Alameddine, a young player for the Parramatta Eels, was benched due to the escalating gang war in Sydney. The Bulldogs have been in extensive communication with the NRL Integrity Unit regarding Zain's personal safety and his ability to participate in games.

To ensure Zain's safety, the club has implemented several measures, including providing security personnel who liaise directly with the police during his matches. Zain Alameddine recently transferred to the Bulldogs from the Parramatta Eels. The NRL's Integrity Unit has been collaborating with the New South Wales Police Force, offering advice to both the Bulldogs and the Eels on the matter.

Sources indicate there is no immediate threat to Zain's safety, which has led the Canterbury-Bankstown club to allow him to continue playing, unlike the Parramatta Eels. Both Zain and Mohamed Alameddine are not accused of any wrongdoing or involvement in organized crime. The Alameddine family is known to operate a crime network from Sydney's western suburbs, with senior figures reportedly having fled to Lebanon in 2023. Police suspect a series of recent shootings and arson attacks are linked to a feud between this network and a rival group known as the "Coconut Cartel."