Banned footballer Bronson Xerri has spoken openly about his desire for NRL “redemption” after nearly four years watching from the sidelines.
Xerri was banned from the NRL following the 2019 season in which he made his first-grade debut, playing 22 games and scoring 13 tries for the Cronulla Sharks. He tested positive for Testosterone, Androsterone, Etiocholanolone and 5b-androstane-3a, 17b-diol in November 2019, with ASADA informing him of the findings in May 2020.
He had reportedly just knocked back a five-year extension offer from the Sharks worth approximately $2.5 million when he got the test results.
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The 22-year-old lost his appeal in 2021 and officially served a four-year ban, preventing him from playing for or training with an NRL club until November 2023.
“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,” Xerri said at the time.
Speaking to 9News this week, Xerri declared he has “big ambitions” ahead of his return to the competition, admitting he wanted to be a “role model” for young fans.
“Sitting out for four years looking at the game and watching the rep games and all those big dreams I had when I was playing obviously hurt, but I’m the one to blame, I put myself in that position,” he said.
“But I’m coming for redemption and I’m excited.
“I miss being that role model I was as a grade footballer, but now I think I can teach a lot of young kids to not go down that path that I did, to be educated and to know the dos and don’ts.”
The Bulldogs recently signed Xerri for the 2024 and 2025 NRL seasons. He will join Canterbury for pre-season training in November when his lengthy suspension finally ends.
However, Xerri acknowledged he doesn’t expect the entire NRL community to welcome him back with open arms.
“I know what to expect when I come back,” he continued.
“It’s fine, like I said, I put that on myself, I made the mistake.
“My plan is to just repay my family (and) repay my loyal fans.”
