NRL 2023: Bulldogs sign Bronson Xerri for 2024 season on two-year deal despite doping ban

Former Cronulla Sharks star Bronson Xerri has secured a return to the NRL, despite having 11 months remaining on a doping suspension.

Former sharks speedster Bronson Xerri is set for an NRL return at the Bulldogs. Source: Supplied

The comeback is on.

Bronson Xerri will attempt to overcome a four-year exile that has included working on building sites and training alone in his garage, after inking a two-year contract with the Bulldogs.

The contract has been ratified by the Canterbury board on the provision that Xerri commits to regular drug testing.

In a club statement, the Bulldogs confirmed the intent to sign the 22-year-old centre.

“The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs would like to confirm the club has issued a playing contract to Bronson Xerri for the 2024 and 2025 NRL Season,’’ the statement read.

“The club is continuing to work with the NRL Integrity Unit to ensure full compliance is undertaken, before Bronson is able to return to the sport in November 2023.’’

Former sharks speedster Bronson Xerri is set for an NRL return at the Bulldogs. Source: Supplied

After a series of appeals, the former Cronulla Sharks prodigy was ultimately suspended for four years by the NRL Anti-Doping Tribunal in March 2021 after originally testing positive to testosterone and three other substances banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency in 2019.

The prodigious talent played 22 games for the Sharks in his rookie season in 2019 before the positive test.

Under the terms of his suspension, Xerri has been banned from any involvement in organised professional sport governed by the WADA code.

His suspension will formally expire on November 24, 2023, the point of which he will be free to commence pre-season training with the Dogs ahead of the 2024 season.

The NRL also confirmed that Xerri’s contract wouldn’t be registered until his ban was formally lifted.

Bronson Xerri revealed the news after posting a photo of an NRL contract for the 2024-25 seasons. Credit: Instagram.

In the interim, Canterbury are expected to provide Xerri with a personalised training schedule in order for him to prepare for his arrival.

Before Canterbury offered the two-year deal, the 22-year-old held meetings with head coach Cameron Ciraldo and GM of football Phil Gould, where he has expressed his desire to make up for lost time.

The Bulldogs believe that given his young age - Xerri will be 23 when he attempts his comeback - the gamble of attempting to return after four years out of the game is worth the risk.

Xerri burst onto the scene in 2019, scoring 13 tries in 22 games before being suspended. Picture. Phil Hillyard

A centre or wing vacancy could also quickly become available for Xerri in 2024 with currently contracted outside backs Braidon Burns, Jayden Okunbor, Declan Casey, Corey Allen and Jake Averillo all off-contract at the end of 2023.

Xerri has made no secret of his desire to return to the NRL.

He regularly posts photos of his bulked-up body, while he posted a copy of ASADA anti-doping paperwork with the caption ‘to shut you all up’.

At the time of his suspension, rugby league immortal Andrew Johns predicted Xerri would make it back to the NRL.

“To go down that line and take those sorts of substances is just sending an awful message and doing an awful thing to your body,’’ Johns said.

“The good thing is, he’s young. Young people make stupid errors like that and he’s most probably young enough that he might get an opportunity to recover from this.”

“He’ll come back, and I have no doubt he’ll come back and he’ll represent.

“I think he’s got the ability to go all the way in the game and represent NSW and Australia.”

Originally published as NRL 2023: Bulldogs sign Bronson Xerri for 2024 season on two-year deal despite doping ban