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Bronson Xerri

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Bronson Xerri
Xerri in 2019
Personal information
Born (2000-09-10) 10 September 2000 (age 24)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Height187 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight99 kg (15 st 8 lb)
Playing information
PositionCentre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2019 Cronulla Sharks 22 13 0 0 52
2024– Canterbury Bulldogs 19 10 0 0 40
Total 41 23 0 0 92
Source: [1]
As of 15 September 2024

Bronson Xerri (/ʃɛri/, "sherry") (born 10 September 2000) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently plays as a centre for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the National Rugby League (NRL) after being suspended for four years.[2] He previously played for the Cronulla Sharks.

Background

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Xerri was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and is of Maltese descent.[3]

He played his junior rugby league for the Aquinas Colts and Moorebank Rams.[4]

Career

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2019

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Xerri made his debut in round 4 of the 2019 NRL season against the Parramatta Eels. Xerri went on from there and kept playing in the centres for the next two rounds of the season where he scored his first NRL career try against the Penrith Panthers in round six.

In round 10 against rivals the St. George Illawarra Dragons, Xerri scored his first career hat-trick as Cronulla won the match 22–9 at Kogarah Oval. The following week, Xerri scored two tries as Cronulla defeated Parramatta 42–22.[5][6]

In Round 20, Xerri scored 2 tries as Cronulla defeated South Sydney 39–24 at Shark Park.[7]

In round 22 against St. George, Xerri scored the winning try as Cronulla won the match 18–12 at Shark Park.[8]

At the end of the 2019 regular season, Cronulla finished in 7th place on the table. Xerri played in the club's elimination final match which Cronulla lost 28–16 against Manly at Brookvale Oval with Xerri scoring a try in the loss.[9]

2020

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On 26 May 2020, Xerri was provisionally suspended after failing a drug test.[10][11]

On 1 September, Xerri's B-Sample returned and confirmed he had tested positive to use of anabolic steroids. The NRL released a statement saying “The National Rugby League (NRL) has today issued Cronulla Sharks player Bronson Xerri with a Notice of Alleged Anti-Doping Rule Violations under the NRL’s Anti-Doping Policy,” the NRL said in a statement.

“This follows the return of a positive sample and completion of the anti-doping process administered by Sport Integrity Australia.

“The Notice alleges that Mr Xerri breached the policy through the presence, use and possession of Anabolic Androgenic Steroids prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the NRL's Anti-Doping Policy".[12]

2021

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On 23 March, the NRL confirmed that Xerri had been formally suspended for four years following a ruling made by the NRL Anti-Doping Tribunal. Xerri would be free to resume his career from November 2023.

In response to his appeal being rejected and the ban upheld, Xerri said “For all you haters calling me a drug cheat, you all have no clue how much I put in the work to be where I was, and to my loyal family and friends, words can't express how much you all mean to me. The comeback is on, 2024".[13][2]

2022

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On 2 December, it was announced that Canterbury had offered Xerri a two-year deal starting in 2024 after his doping ban is completed.[14]

2024

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On 15 February, Xerri played his first rugby league game in four years which came in a trial match for Canterbury against Melbourne at Belmore Sports Ground.[15] In round 5 of the 2024 NRL season, Xerri made his debut for Canterbury in the NRL in their 30-26 victory over the Sydney Roosters.[16] Xerri played a total of 19 games for Canterbury in the 2024 NRL season as the club qualified for the finals finishing 6th. Xerri played in Canterbury's elimination final loss against Manly.[17]

References

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  1. ^ Rugby League Project
  2. ^ a b "Xerri suspended for four years". NRL.com. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  3. ^ Nicolussi, Christian (2 May 2019). "Cronulla Shark's Bronson Xerri vows to ignore niggle from Melbourne Storm's Will Chambers". SMH Sport. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  4. ^ Glanville, Caitlin. "Young Pups Unleashed for NRL Trial". www.bulldogs.com.au. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  5. ^ Walter, Brad (26 May 2019). "Xerri hat-trick sinks Dragons in Wollongong". NRL. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  6. ^ "Cronulla Sharks' Bronson Xerri burns Parramatta Eels in NRL rout". Stuff. 8 June 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  7. ^ Walter, Brad (3 August 2019). "Graham leads Sharks to rout of rusty Rabbitohs". NRL. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  8. ^ "Sydney Roosters belt Warriors, Cronulla Sharks beat St George Illawarra Dragons to go into top eight". ABC News. 18 August 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  9. ^ Walter, Brad (14 September 2019). "Under-strength Sea Eagles send Sharks packing". NRL. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  10. ^ "NRL 2020: Bronson Xerri provisionally suspended after failing ASADA drug test". Sporting News Australia. 26 May 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  11. ^ "Young NRL star Bronson Xerri suspended after failing doping test". The Guardian. 26 May 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  12. ^ St John, Mark (September 2020). "Sharks star Bronson Xerri's B-sample tests positive for anabolic steroids". Fox Sports Australia. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  13. ^ "Show you all': Banned Xerri vows 2024 'comeback is on'". Fox Sports Australia. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  14. ^ "Banned drug cheat making wild NRL comeback with Bulldogs". www.news.com.au. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  15. ^ O'Loughlin, Liam. "NRL Trials: Bronson Xerri and Ryan Papenhuyzen return in style; Fresh selection headaches emerge for Bulldogs". wwos.nine.com.au. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  16. ^ McDonald, Darcie; Gabor, Martin. "'Scare of their life': Dogs survive shock implosion vs 11 Roosters in absurd NRL thriller". Fox Sports Australia. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  17. ^ "Bulldogs left 'frustrated' by semi final defeat as new standards laid bare". www.nine.com.au.
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