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Despite the fact that Bronson Xerri has been out for so long, the Canterbury recruit is still getting used to the new regulations of the NRL. Nevertheless, he demonstrated that you can teach a new Bulldog new tricks with his impressive performance in their 24-12 victory over the Storm at Belmore.
After testing positive for a prohibited substance in November 2019, only one season into his NRL career, he was ultimately banned for four years. This was his first competitive game since then.
For the Sharks, Xerri scored 13 tries in 22 games, but he made a costly decision that put his career on pause.
However, the Bulldogs have given him another shot, and Xerri is eager to take advantage of it. On a night when he put in a strong 65 minutes of work, the new recruit scored a try and set up another.
It felt fantastic to run outside and get involved because I had completed the hard yards throughout those four years. I relished it,” he remarked.
“Removing the rust was the most difficult part. Even though I felt a little rusty, all I wanted was to finish the game and gain some experience. The team performed admirably, so we can only go forward from here.
For his second-half try, Xerri didn’t need to do much, but crossing the line was a significant turning point for a young player who is making up for lost time and who felt more anxious on Thursday than he did on his NRL debut.
“I believe that when I scored, all of the difficult moments from those four years came back to me.” He stated, “It was unbelievable.”
“Seeing my family there made me very emotional, and there were a lot of nerves involved.” I loved it, even though it was difficult and I was rusty.
“I’ve never felt more anxious as I did then. I believe that I was as prepared as I could have been to play my best by the team and the coaching staff. Even though I always anticipated some rust, I’m just relieved that I made it through tonight.I believe that anyone who hadn’t played in four years would have been a little rusty and nervous. I’m pleased with myself for making it through the evening. Although I knew it would be difficult, I’m proud of myself.
The 23-year-old did nothing to hurt his prospects on the left edge against a depleted Storm team, but he is in a fight for a starting spot in the opening round.
His next assignment is a match against the Sharks on Friday, but Xerri isn’t worried about running with his old teammates. Instead, he’s focused on getting acquainted with the new regulations, such as the six again interpretation, which wasn’t in place when he was a player in the NRL previously.
“I only saw the Bulldogs play last year. There was no other club that I watched. I live my life doing this now. I come in and study the game, and the coaching staff and excellent, seasoned players in my position help me along the way,” he remarked.
“We can’t do this, but we can do that,” was the query I asked when I first walked in. It’s absurd, but that’s the purpose of the preseason. We’ve put in a lot of work, and I believe we’re now in a strong position.
Xerri worked with speed coach Roger Fabri during his four-year suspension, so he didn’t lose any of his lightning-fast pace.
“I believe my speed is the same,” he remarked.
In addition, I gained five kilograms because I was 18 years old when I started playing in the NRL. That made me 94 years old, and I’m currently 99 years old. Without a doubt, I still have my speed. It’s all right, though I was hoping to exhibit it today.
“I believe that 10.80 is my best time over the 100.”