{"id":587908,"date":"2026-04-05T22:47:13","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T22:47:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/587908\/"},"modified":"2026-04-05T22:47:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T22:47:13","slug":"canterbury-bulldogs-clear-message-to-bronson-xerri-in-south-sydney-rabbitohs-clash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/587908\/","title":{"rendered":"Canterbury Bulldogs’ ‘clear message’ to Bronson Xerri in South Sydney Rabbitohs clash"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bronson Xerri needs to ask for an immediate release from Canterbury<\/a> and get himself a new club before the June 30 transfer deadline.<\/p>\n

That was the clear message to come out of the Bulldogs’ 32-24 loss to Souths on Good Friday.<\/p>\n

In a baffling move, the Bulldogs named specialist centre Xerri on the bench – and then didn’t use him when skipper Stephen Crichton went off with a shoulder injury<\/a> midway through the second half.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Broncos rocked as star trio ruled out for weeks<\/a><\/p>\n

READ MORE: Trophy mishap puts dampener on Kings NBL celebrations<\/a><\/p>\n

READ MORE: Joey fires up amid calls for Dragons coach to be axed<\/a><\/p>\n

They brought on halfback Sean O’Sullivan instead, he made several mistakes as the backline was rejigged, and the Dogs frittered away an 18-12 half-time lead to crash and burn against the Bunnies.<\/p>\n

The question has to be asked – why was Xerri named on the bench if he was never going to be used?<\/p>\n

The try-scoring ace was mysteriously dropped after one NRL<\/a> game this season – a win over the Dragons in Vegas – and it’s obvious he is surplus to requirements.<\/p>\n

\"Bronson<\/p>\n

Bronson Xerri in action for the Bulldogs in Las Vegas in round one.\u00a0NRL Imagery<\/p>\n

Xerri is a class finisher and would have no trouble finding another club if the Bulldogs grant him a release.<\/p>\n

Souths were superb in the second half, putting the heat on the Bulldogs defence and coming away with a valuable win.<\/p>\n

Back-rower Tallis Duncan was the most dangerous forward on the field, while Latrell Mitchell was all class, bagging two clever tries from kicks.<\/p>\n

Origin to ‘kill off’ Penrith’s 91-year first<\/p>\n

It may be only round five, but punters are already asking the question – can Penrith be the first team since Easts in 1935 to have an undefeated season?<\/p>\n

The Panthers have had arguably the toughest draw of any team in the early stages but have won all five games in convincing style – with their 50-point thrashing of the Storm<\/a> sending shockwaves through every team.<\/p>\n

But the Panthers’ amazing success could be their downfall – at Origin time.<\/p>\n

Watch the 2026 NRL season live and free on Nine and 9Now<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If Laurie Daley decides to pick the Blues team on form this season, it is likely to contain at least nine Panthers – and that is when they will be vulnerable.<\/p>\n

As long as Nathan Cleary calls the shots at halfback, Dylan Edwards makes 200-plus metres most games at the back and Casey McLean and Tom Jenkins keep scoring tries for fun, no team will get near the Panthers.<\/p>\n

An unbeaten season would be a real possibility – but Origin will kill it off unfortunately.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Panthers superstar Nathan Cleary in action in round three against the Roosters.\u00a0Getty<\/p>\n

Underrated Shark could ’embarrass the club’<\/p>\n

The Sharks are refusing to give Will Kennedy a contract for 2027 – but the under-rated fullback may well embarrass the club into a backflip.<\/p>\n

Kennedy is unsigned for next season and has been told he is free to look around – and the classy No.1 continues to play exciting attacking football.<\/p>\n

One of the Sharks’ best players last season, he has started 2026 in red-hot form, bagging a first-half double in the impressive win over a lethargic Warriors team<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Kennedy may lack the star power of the likes of Reece Walsh, James Tedesco or Dylan Edwards – but he gives 100 per cent every week, knows his way to the try line and is a fan favourite at Shark Park.<\/p>\n

Alex Johnston was in a similar position to Kennedy at Souths a couple of seasons ago.<\/p>\n

Officials decided he was past his use-by date and didn’t offer him a new deal.<\/p>\n

Johnston refused to take no for an answer and Souths did a U-turn – and look how that has ended up.<\/p>\n

\"SYDNEY,<\/p>\n

Sharks fullback William Kennedy celebrates scoring a try against the Warriors.\u00a0Getty<\/p>\n

Broncos muscle up in defence after Te’o bombshell<\/p>\n

The Broncos may be missing recently departed defensive coach Ben Te’o<\/a> – but they certainly aren’t showing it.<\/p>\n

Michael Maguire’s men have now won three games on the trot after a shaky start to their title defence, downing the Titans 26-12 on Saturday night<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It’s been their defence that has really stepped up – despite Te’o’s departure.<\/p>\n

The premiers leaked 66 points in their first two matches, but since then have conceded just 38 points in three games.<\/p>\n

The improved defence has enabled them to get their premiership campaign back on track, with the attack still a little clunky.<\/p>\n

With several injuries – notably a facial fracture to Reece Walsh, a knee injury to Ben Hunt and a groin problem to Adam Reynolds – it could be tough going for the Broncos in coming weeks.<\/p>\n

Young gun close to re-signing with Cowboys<\/p>\n

They say timing is everything in sport, and boom Cowboys youngster Jaxon Purdue has it in spades.<\/p>\n

Just as he is in the midst of negotiations about his future, the 20-year-old produced arguably the best performance of his career in the 32-0 humiliation of the dreadful Dragons on Saturday night<\/a>.<\/p>\n

One of the brightest young talents in the NRL, Purdue was too fast and too elusive for the Dragons, who look the slowest team in the league.<\/p>\n

Purdue scored two tries, created another and broke the double century in run metres.<\/p>\n

Several clubs are keen to sign the youngster but word is he is close to securing a four-year deal to stay in Townsville.<\/p>\n

And after his red-hot display at Kogarah, he can demand a few extra dollars before he signs on the dotted line.<\/p>\n

\"SYDNEY,<\/p>\n

Cowboys young gun Jaxon Purdue scores against the Dragons.\u00a0Getty<\/p>\n

Did the Sea Eagles ‘run dead’ to doom Seibold?<\/p>\n

Somewhere on the northern beaches last Thursday night, Anthony Seibold will have watched Manly’s stunning 52-18 slaughter of the Dolphins<\/a>, as shocked as everyone else at his former team’s amazing turnaround in a week.<\/p>\n

The Sea Eagles have gone from a team that looks totally dis-interested in the opening three games to a side that looks capable of making the top four.<\/p>\n

Matty Johns and his panel of experts on TV even asked the question on many people’s minds – did the Sea Eagles ‘run dead’ in the opening three rounds to get rid of Seibold?<\/p>\n

The difference between Manly in a week was staggering – and no player showed that more than enigmatic back-rower Haumole Olakau’atu.<\/p>\n

In round four against the Roosters, Olakau’atu made 10 runs for 98 metres with a modest 43 post-contact metres.<\/p>\n

Against the Dolphins a week later, he was charging into the defence like a man possessed – a try, 24 runs, 268 metres and 123 post-contact metres.<\/p>\n

Right across the board, it was obvious Manly wanted to play for interim coach Kieran Foran more than they did from Seibold as they racked up a half-century in stylish fashion.<\/p>\n

Can they keep it up? Time will tell…<\/p>\n

Englishman ‘dreadful’ in Dolphins hammering<\/p>\n

In a woeful Dolphins team the other night, Englishman Morgan Knowles was dreadful.<\/p>\n

He clearly struggled with the pace of the game and gave away three first-half penalties and spent time in the sin bin – those mistakes costing the home team four tries as the Sea Eagles charged to a 28-0 lead at the break.<\/p>\n

Coach Kristian Woolf has hinted there will be changes this week and I’ll be very surprised if Knowles is still in the 17.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Bronson Xerri needs to ask for an immediate release from Canterbury and get himself a new club before…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":587909,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[568],"tags":[64,63,761,762,158,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-587908","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nrl","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-national-rugby-league","11":"tag-nationalrugbyleague","12":"tag-nrl","13":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/587908","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=587908"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/587908\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/587909"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=587908"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=587908"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=587908"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}