Bulldogs centre Bronson Xerri says his demotion to the NSW Cup was the “kick up the arse I needed” as he reaffirmed his desire to see out his current deal with the club despite reports he wanted a release.
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Xerri, 25, was sensationally dropped after Canterbury’s round one win in Las Vegas, with mixed reports that it was due to form, attitude or that he didn’t want to play on the right edge after skipper Stephen Crichton was switched to the left.
He spent two games in reserve grade where he scored an early try against the Raiders as rumours swirled around his future, with coach Cameron Ciraldo initially disappointed with how Xerri reacted to his demotion but proud of the way he’s responded.
It then looked like he’d fallen out of favour completely on Good Friday when Ciraldo brought Sean O’Sullivan on for Crichton instead of a specialist centre like Xerri, although it’s since come out that Bulldogs medical staff didn’t initially think the injury was too serious which is why they went that way.
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“It’s been tough,” Xerri said after his return to first grade on Thursday when the Bulldogs stunned Penrith.
“But as long as the boys within the four walls and the staff know my intentions here (then I’m happy). I just wanted to do what’s best for the team and for the club.
“Whatever was reported was out of my control. As long as the team and all the boys knew my intentions with everything.”
The speedy centre was then asked point blank if he ever wanted out of the club.
“I’m not going to say anything, sorry.”
While he didn’t want to answer that question, Xerri was comfortable with everything else thrown his way as he reflected on a tough few weeks that paled in comparison to when he was suspended for four years having tested positive to banned substances in 2019.
“I went home and asked some hard questions about myself and came back, got the opportunity tonight and tried to take it with both hands,” he said.
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“I have a really good support system with my family. I’ve been through something similar with this – much worse to be fair – so I know how to handle these things.”
Exactly what prompted his axing and the subsequent fallout remains a mystery, but Xerri says it was a wake-up call.
“I just got a bit comfortable in myself. I wasn’t really giving it my all at training. So it was that kick up the arse I needed,” he said.
“I’m a true believer in that everything happens for a reason.
“Me and ‘Ciro’ had some tough conversations, but I’ve got nothing but love and respect for Ciro and this club.
“Like I said, it was the kick up the arse I needed. When it’s all gone, you don’t realise what you’ve got.
“When I was playing NSW Cup, I was like ‘This is not where I belong, this is not where I want to be’.
“I came into training and just put my best foot forward.”
Xerri thanked his Bulldogs teammates for checking in on his mental health over the past few weeks and said it was “good to be back where I belong” after a “fun” stint in NSW Cup.
He set up a try down his preferred left edge and stressed he was happy to play on the right if that’s what Ciraldo wants when Crichton returns from injury.
“I definitely feel more natural (on the left),” he said.
“But I am capable of doing the job on the right. Ciro has spoken about that. I’ve always said to Ciro that I’ll do what’s best for the team, so wherever he wants to put me (that’s where) I’ll play.”
Xerri has another year left on his deal and said he intended to see it out, with his coach thrilled with how he applied himself in his first game back.
“The most pleasing thing which no one would have seen is how well he was communicating out there. The players in there were all talking about that, and that was something he needed to go and work on,” Ciraldo said.
“People in the stands might not see that or value that as much as we do, but it’s awesome to see that he’s brought that into his game.”
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