'It was disappointing': Cameron Ciraldo explains Bronson Xerri axing, dodges contract question

Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo says "preparation" was one reason behind the decision to axe Bronson Xerri and admits it was "disappointing" that the strike centre, per reports, was on the verge of requesting an immediate release.

Ciraldo also sidestepped a question about the outside back's contract, which expires at the end of 2027 — but the Canterbury coach said the Bulldogs "love him" and are "here to support him".

Xerri won't line up in the NRL against the Raiders in Canberra on Thursday night, having been dropped to NSW Cup.

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According to News Corp, Xerri was set to "march into the Bulldogs offices" on Sunday morning, tell his teammates he was done and request an immediate release.

Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould stepped in, meeting Xerri for breakfast on Sunday to take heat out of the situation.

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On Wednesday, Ciraldo spoke publicly for the first time since the Xerri saga blew up.

"There's many factors that go into it," Ciraldo said when asked to explain his decision to drop Xerri.

"We've had a nearly four-month pre-season now and there's been opportunities to train every day during that time. Bronson was injured for the majority of pre-season, he had a groin complaint, and we sort of moved people around.

"We played semi-finals last year, we had a few injuries, we had to shuffle the decks a little bit in that finals series, and we realised that we needed to be better prepared for those scenarios. So the opportunity during the pre-season was to give people a different look in different positions."

Captain Stephen Crichton was shifted from right centre to left centre, where he's played on many occasions, and Xerri was moved to the right.

According to News Corp, Xerri was angry for three reasons: the positional switch, being told he would be dropped for round three, and being told his contract would not be renewed.

"'Critta' got an opportunity to go back over to the left [during the pre-season] and Enari [Tuala] did a lot of time on the right, and we did like the look of that which was for the majority of pre-season," Ciraldo added.

"Bronson came back from injury and had a crack in the trials and had a crack in round one against the Dragons. It [dropping Xerri] wasn't based purely on the performance against the Dragons, but probably a number of other factors around training and preparation and things like that. So that's why we decided to make that decision."

Ciraldo made no secret that Xerri's attitude irritated him.

"There's plenty of people in the NRL that have reactions that they regret and probably feel like they could have reacted better, and that happens nearly every day in an NRL club and Bronson might have had one of those moments," the coach said.

"It was disappointing. We had the bye last week, we were sort of out of the news for a while, and it would've been nice to enjoy a weekend without any of this drama.

"But it is what it is. This is what happens in football clubs, particularly big football clubs like ours, and we've made peace and we've accepted stuff that happens within our four walls is sometimes gonna be newsworthy, and that's the club we wanna be if we want to be a big club."

Ciraldo also said: "Be upset, but then do what's best for the team."

Xerri was at the Sharks and only one season into his NRL career when he copped a four-year ban after testing positive to testosterone. His suspension spanned November 2019 to November 2023.

The Bulldogs offered him a lifeline, signing Xerri on a two-year deal for the 2024 and 2025 seasons, before extending his contract until the end of 2027.

Ciraldo was evasive when asked if it was correct that Canterbury had told Xerri his contract would not be extended beyond the 2027 season.

"Look, I haven't been part of every conversation around contracts and with managers and things like that," Ciraldo said.

"I don't believe that's true, but I'm not totally sure, to be honest."

How has Xerri been over the past few days?

"Fine," Ciraldo said.

"Fine.

"We love Bronson. He's been an important part of our group over the last couple of years. I feel like I've got a good relationship with him. We're from the same area and we've spent a lot of time together over the last two-and-a-half years. So we love him.

"We didn't like his reaction to start with, but we're here to support him, and that's coaching. We've got to challenge and support them, and 'til the day he leaves this club, whether that's 10 days, 10 weeks, or 10 years, we'll be here to challenge him and support him, and try and make him the best footballer and the best person he can be."

Xerri will play for the Bulldogs' NSW Cup team against the Raiders in Canberra on Saturday afternoon.

He's been named to play at right centre, the position he reportedly doesn't want to be in, at Raiders Belconnen in Canberra's north.

"His response right now is to go back to reserve grade and be the best-possible player he can be and force his way back into the NRL team," Ciraldo said.

"Bronson Xerri, at his best, will force his way back into our team somewhere — but the ball's totally in his court."