Downfall of kid on way to the top

Bronson Xerri was a quiet and diligent kid who was on the fast-track to stardom. Until now.

Teenage rugby league star Bronson Xerri with his mum Teresa

Bronson Xerri still lives at home in Sydney’s southern suburbs with his mother Teresa. He has her name tattooed down the right side of his neck, a tribute to the woman who helped keep him on the straight and narrow as he chased his dream of playing in the NRL.

Talk to those who know him and they’ll tell you he is a quiet and diligent kid who was on the fast-track to stardom. At least he was until Tuesday, when news broke that the 19-year-old had fallen foul of the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority after returning a positive result to myriad drugs, among them testosterone and androsterone, the latter apparently used to enhance athletic performance, increase energy, keep red blood cells healthy, enhance recovery and growth from exercise, and increase sexual desire and performance.

The rugby league world was in shock. No one was more stunned than his teammates at the Sharks.

Xerri was coming off a terrific debut season that ended with shoulder surgery, and the natural instinct on Tuesday was to suspect he had tried to take some shortcuts to fast-track his recovery.

The Australian understands Xerri suffered some complications in November, the same month that ASADA swooped and took a sample that now threatens a promising career.

The disappointment was spread far and wide. The Sharks and their coach John Morris have been stripped of a bona fide superstar who would have played first grade in 2018 but was ineligible because he was too young under NRL rules.

That year he played his first game of senior football and scored three tries with his first three touches. He was at short odds to eventually play for NSW and Australia, and a sky blue jersey could have come as early as this year. NSW coach Brad Fittler on Tuesday admitted Xerri was well and truly on the radar, having been part of the NSW pathways programs since the under-16s.

Bronson Xerri after being told by Cronulla coach John Morris he had been named for his first grade debut last season

Fittler had seen Xerri’s progress from close quarters. He, like everyone else, was quickly impressed.

“He was a standout,” Fittler said. “He was like you saw when he first came into first grade; he was very fast and really powerful. He knew his way around the field. You could tell he had played the game for a long time.

“He has been part of the pathways. I think everyone was pretty impressed with what he was doing at Cronulla.

“It is just a tragedy. It is hard to say much until we know exactly what has happened. But it is a tragedy. Without a doubt, he has been real impressive.

“He was pretty good, he was always pretty good. It is about looking after his wellbeing at the moment. You would love for it to be a mistake.”

Fittler spoke for many. Sadly, ASADA rarely makes mistakes, which means a burgeoning career is now on the rocks.

At the age of 19, Xerri was doing everything he could to ensure there would be no second-year syndrome. He was dedicated to his craft. In the off-season, he worked with sprint coach Roger Fabri in pursuit of more speed. Fabri was bold enough to suggest Xerri was on the verge of becoming the fastest player in the game.

The speed was his hallmark, but there was more to his game than just blistering pace. Former Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan saw it first, having watched Xerri come through the ranks with his son Kyle.

The pair played for the same junior club and were friends, to the point where rumours had already begun that Xerri was eyeing off a switch to the Sydney Roosters to play alongside Flanagan despite having another year remaining on his contract with Cronulla.

The Sharks had tried in vain to extend his contract, having tabled a five-year-deal worth $2.5m in January to keep him. Xerri rejected the bid but he was still central to Morris’s plans this season, having been the coach who handed him his first grade debut in 2019.

That moment was one to remember. It went viral after the Sharks posted a video on social media of Xerri being told by Morris that he was making his first-grade debut. Xerri was overcome with emotion and fought back tears as he called his mother with the good news.

“Oh son, I’m so proud. How do you feel?” Teresa said, adding: “Drive (home) slowly. Take it easy. It’s school zones.”

Sadly, Xerri now has much bigger things to worry about than school zones.