![\"Christian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/635402f1698dc5687fb8f98be5c093fe76cbc56f.png\")
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March 19, 2026 \u2014 4:30pm<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n Save this article for later<\/p>\n Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime.<\/p>\n Got it<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n Benji Marshall has dismissed the possibility of unsettled Bulldogs centre Bronson Xerri<\/a> joining the Wests Tigers, and voiced his disappointment his side had become embroiled in the centre\u2019s stand-off with Canterbury.<\/p>\n Xerri has been dropped<\/a> to the Bulldogs\u2019 NSW Cup team this weekend following reports he was unhappy at the club and was set to seek a release. News Corp reported the possibility he could join the Tigers, pointing out that the player and Marshall shared the same manager.<\/p>\n But Marshall said that wouldn\u2019t happen \u2013 and nor would the Tigers pursue North Queensland\u2019s Scott Drinkwater, who had been shopped to the club as a potential fullback replacement should Jahream Bula exit.<\/p>\n \u201cI like Bronson, he\u2019s a really good kid, a really good footy player, but we\u2019re not looking at Bronson,\u201d Marshall said on Thursday. \u201cI like Drinkwater, he\u2019s a really good player, but we have a fullback [Bula]. We\u2019re not looking at him either.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat baffles me is we get thrown into these [conversations] and become a part of a story that\u2019s not our story. Let\u2019s stop it there. They\u2019re not coming here.\u201d<\/p>\n Xerri was axed for the Dogs\u2019 Thursday night clash again at Canberra and replaced by Enari Tuala. The 25-year-old will play reserve grade in Belconnen on Saturday.<\/p>\n Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo said this week there were \u201ca number of other factors around training and preparation and things like that\u201d<\/a> when asked about Xerri\u2019s demotion.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Melbourne have cash and are in the market for an outside back, but sources with knowledge of the situation not authorised to speak publicly confirmed Xerri had not been discussed by Storm officials. The source said the Storm\u2019s preference was to sign a goalkicking back, with their last recognised sharpshooter, Nick Meaney, to join Perth next season.<\/p>\n Marshall has two handy centres in Heamasi Makasini and Taylan May. The latter will be out for up to six weeks with a shoulder injury, but Marshall said the damage could have been worse.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cThe good news for Taylan is he didn\u2019t chip the bone, so he just needs to get strength back into his shoulder, and get it rehabbed,\u201d Marshall said.<\/p>\n \u201cDefensively, Heamasi was outstanding [against the Cowboys], and for a guy who is 18, the maturity he showed in the game, [while] he didn\u2019t have any superstar moments where he\u2019s been compared to Jonah Lomu [like he was in the trials], but that doesn\u2019t happen every week.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we get a good 7.5-out-of-10 performance from him each week, that\u2019s good enough for me. I thought he was an eight.\u201d<\/p>\n The Tigers thumped the Cowboys 44-16 in their opening game of the season<\/a>, with plenty of excited fans snapping up tickets for Saturday\u2019s clash against South Sydney on the Central Coast.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Tigers](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/7d18b283e6c8668a720e418302f1ffcac7f8042d.jpeg\")
Tigers coach Benji Marshall has no interest in Bronson Xerri.Getty Images<\/p>\n