![\"Christian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/635402f1698dc5687fb8f98be5c093fe76cbc56f.png\")
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April 10, 2026 \u2014 9:40am<\/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 Bronson Xerri has insisted he will see out his contract with Canterbury, and said that being dropped to reserve grade was \u201cthe kick up the arse I needed.\u201d<\/p>\n Captain Stephen Crichton\u2019s shoulder injury<\/a> paved the way for Xerri to return to the NRL side on Thursday night, and he was more than solid at left centre as the Dogs triumphed 32-16 over premiership favourites Penrith<\/a>.<\/p>\n Xerri reportedly wanted out of the <\/a>Bulldogs after being told he would be dropped leading into the round-three clash against Canberra. There were also suggestions Xerri was unhappy about being moved from his preferred left side of the field to the right over the summer, while the Dogs had already told him there was no appetite to resign him beyond 2027.<\/p>\n The 25-year-old admitted the past few weeks had been tough, but nothing compared to the four years he spent on the sidelines because of a performance-enhancing drug ban.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been tough,\u201d Xerri said. \u201cI went home [after being dropped] and asked some hard questions about myself and came back.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been through something similar to this \u2013 much worse, to be fair \u2013 so I know how to handle these things. I just got a bit comfortable in myself. I wasn\u2019t really giving it my all at training. So it was that kick up the arse I needed.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen it\u2019s all gone, you don\u2019t realise what you\u2019ve got. When I was playing NSW Cup, I was like, \u2018This is not where I belong, this is not where I want to be\u2019. I came into training and just put my best foot forward.\u201d<\/p>\n Xerri praised coach Cameron Ciraldo for supporting him, and his teammates who made a point of checking in on his wellbeing.<\/p>\n When asked if he wanted out of the club, Xerri said: \u201cI\u2019m not going to say anything, sorry.<\/p>\n \u201cWhatever was reported was out of my control. As long as the team and all the boys knew my intentions with everything.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n As for playing on the left edge, Xerri said: \u201cI definitely feel more natural there. But I am capable of doing the job on the right. Ciro has spoken about that. Wherever he wants to put me, I\u2019ll play.\u201d<\/p>\n Ciraldo said of Xerri\u2019s performance: \u201cThe most pleasing thing, which no one would have seen, is how well he was communicating out there.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Bronson](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/6b4161314557c1bde29c0c354f371c89f89a5e91f15209535a8cd954f0973311.jpeg\")
Bronson Xerri was solid in his comeback game for Canterbury.NRL Images<\/p>\n
![\"Matt](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/5bb60ce1f0ced89db22b9314bd730b550b86d3267e94a148121d6cc5c5018769.gif\")
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