Bronson Xerri’s turbulent stint at Belmore is over, as he will head to the Melbourne Storm on a three-year deal, the “fresh start” he needs at this point in his career.
Xerri’s year began badly, being dropped from the starting side after Canterbury’s Las Vegas opener, and he didn’t get his centre spot back until round six.
The form that made him one of the competition’s most dangerous outside backs never really showed, as he only managed two tries in 11 games for the Bulldogs this year.
Off the field, it got messier when reports emerged that Xerri was unhappy at the club, and claims were made that he was whinging and kicking stones.
“The year before, I was battling an injury, osteitis pubis; I was playing on it,” he revealed on Josh Mansour’s Unscripted Podcast.
“I got to the off-season, and I was told not to do anything. So I rested, I went to Lebanon, I was eating like s***, no preparation for the pre-season.
“I was so underdone; it wasn’t until three or four weeks before the trial game I was with the side, and Ciro [Cameron Ciraldo] said, ‘We want to put you on the right side,’ and I was like, ‘I don’t care where I play’.”
The centre, who returned to the NRL in 2024, reflected on his playing style and shared how he started to doubt himself as he tried to come back from injury.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 15: Bronson Xerri of the Bulldogs runs the ball during the NRL Pre-season challenge match between Canterbury Bulldogs and Melbourne Storm at Belmore Sports Ground on February 15, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
“I’m not comfortable on the right side; I’ve been a left side player my whole career,” Xerri explained.
“I was training s*** and started to doubt myself. Me and Ciro had one-on-one meetings. I was telling him how I was feeling, and he gave me some brutal feedback.
“I took it [the feedback] badly. I was prepared for it, [but] it’s hard; you don’t want to bring bad energy.”
Bronson detailed intense conversations with Ciraldo when reports emerged about Xerri’s reaction to the news he was dropped.
“We were sizing each other up about who leaked it. We got to the bottom of it,” he said, confirming that neither he nor Ciraldo talked to the press.
The Bulldogs’ salary cap situation forced the club to make uncomfortable decisions, and ultimately led them to tell Xerri he could look around and explore his options.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 21: Bronson Xerri of the Bulldogs is tackled during the NRL Semi Final match between Canterbury Bulldogs and Penrith Panthers at Accor Stadium on September 21, 2025 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Xerri revealed what the process was like and confirmed that while several NRL clubs were interested, he considered only two: the Parramatta Eels and the Melbourne Storm.
“I met with Rylesy [Jason Ryles] at Parra. To be fair, I was set on Parra, only because I was comfortable,” he reflected.
“What he was telling me was exactly what I wanted to hear; I just could see myself playing for Parra. [I love] the way they play.”
Two days later, he met with the Storm and loved the conversations, the genuine love and respect the club showed him that they didn’t have to.
There was, however, one concern, one downside to signing with Melbourne.
“No one’s ever gone backwards at Melbourne; the only big stepping point was moving away from my family and friends,” he explained.
While Xerri is glowingly confident about the move to Melbourne, he has not lived on his own without his family.
Melbourne is the first chance to build independence in a way he’s never had to before.
After meeting with Bellamy, he felt like that was the place to be, and as he reflects on heading to Melbourne before pre-season camp, the earliest they’ve started in a long time.
“We had a laugh, and I walked out of there pretty confident,” he said.
“At the start I was anxious, but now I’m keen to get over there; [I] got a place in South Cowra,” he revealed, claiming the house he bought was the right place for him.
The 26-year-old respects Bellamy, and after vetting what it is really like at the Storm on his own accord, it’s hard to turn down the kind of opportunity to be at the club, revealing the lengths the Storm went to beyond paying for his coffee.
“[Bellamy’s] resume speaks for itself; he cares about you on a personal level, as a human being,” he explained.
“Bellamy and Frank Ponissi said that they were proud of me for what I’ve been through, which they didn’t have to do.
“The owners were messaging and getting behind me. Munster called me at training and left me a long voicemail.
“I know I made the best decision.”
While it hasn’t fully sunk in yet that he’s leaving the Bulldogs, he reflected that his time playing in the NSW Cup reminded him “why we play football” and that it was a lot of fun.
Xerri will also be joined at the Storm by Kelma Tuilagi, Adam Pompey and Jamayne Isaako in the 2027 season. Melbourne’s pre-season training begins on November 12.