The Canterbury Bulldogs season has been dealt a bombshell blow after only one game with Bronson Xerri demanding an immediate release.
The out of the blue request was reported on Saturday by Code Sports and is said to have caught the Bulldogs off guard.
Xerri joined the club in 2024 and was part of the team who flew to Las Vegas for the round one golden point win over St George Illawarra.
The reason behind Xerri’s sudden departure have not yet been made clear, however it is expected the club will honour the request.
The Melbourne Storm could be a suitor for the wantaway star in the wake of their failed pursuit of Zac Lomax.
The Eels are another who are likely to factor into the equation for Xerri’s services with star likely to be hot property on the open market.
Xerri returned to the game in 2024 following a four-year drug ban after returning a positive test to steroids in 2019.
The Bulldogs handed him a lifeline in 2023 before he returned to first grade the following year.
Xerri spoke after his return game about the emotion of it all and just how far he had come in his journey.
“It was a rollercoaster because I knew ‘Wilso’ was 50-50 so I was just sitting on it,” he said.
“I was trying to mentally prepare as best as I could, but when he told me the news, I was like ‘wow’. I straight away called my mum and my dad and everyone trying to sort out tickets. I had to go back to my room to take a breath and focus on the game.
“This was way more important and way more special than my actual debut. What I’ve been through over the four years and to come back definitely makes it more special.
“It doubled that feeling (of the trial return). I ran out there, took a deep breath and I was extremely grateful. I kind of soaked it all in and said ‘I’m back, this is where I belong’.”
Originally published as Star drops release request bombshell on Bulldogs after one game