Former Bulldog Josh Morris has urged Bronson Xerri to “show some resilience” as his future at the club hangs in the balance.
Xerri is set to be dropped to NSW Cup with reports emerging that demotion has led to his unhappiness at the club.
Morris believes Xerri needs to fight harder to regain his spot and not agitate for a release amid rumours he’s also unhappy about being moved from the left side of the field to the right.
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“The Bulldogs gave him gave him the shot when no one else wanted to and Bulldogs fans don’t forget that either,” he said on 2GB’s The Offload.
“He had four years out of the game, like you would have thought he would have built up a bit of resilience, having to play a different side of the field and cracking the shits about it. I don’t get that there’s no resilience there.
Josh Morris in action for the Bulldogs in 2018. NRL Imagery
“And if you did get dropped to reserve grade, well then show some resilience, put in good performances and get back in the team. Like I just think these days players just expect to be first graders. And if you’re not, you’re still a professional athlete. If you get dropped, don’t kick stones. The jersey isn’t yours … you have to perform. And if Cameron Ciraldo doesn’t think he’s performed well, then that’s fair enough.
“Too often we see players get dropped and then straight away they’re not happy. They speak to their managers, they agitate for a release. And I just can’t cop that, I really can’t.”
Morris’ comments come after NRL legend Billy Slater conceded there may be ‘smoke to the fire’ surrounding Xerri.
The reports around Xerri prompted a swift meeting with club boss Phil Gould.
Both parties have appeared to hash out any issues, with the star centre’s manager confirming they had not asked to quit the club early and he would go back to NSW Cup.
“I think it’s in Bronson’s best interest; he needs to react positively,” acting agent George Christodoulou told The Sydney Morning Herald.
Bronson Xerri. Getty
“To be an elite NRL player, you can’t kick stones. I don’t want to offer a soft option out for the kid. He needs to put his best foot forward and focus on his game.
“It’s not the right option to be trying to find an exit. As it is now, he’ll just be playing on and trying to find his way back into first grade.”
Xerri has scored 19 tries in 44 games for the Bulldogs since returning to the NRL in 2024 after a lengthy drug suspension.
He played in the side’s Las Vegas season opener against the Dragons, but will be axed heading into round three in favour of Enari Tuala.
Slater has backed Xerri to turn things around, but admitted there could be more to the story than what has unfolded since round one.
“I’m always reluctant to talk about these rumours, because you don’t know what’s true and what’s not true – but the one thing you can be assured of is, where there’s smoke there’s fire and there’s something going on,” he said on Nine’s The Billy Slater Podcast.
“You don’t know what to believe, because Gus has come out and said there’s nothing been said about a release … but there’s obviously a player that’s a little bit unhappy.
Bronson Xerri. Getty
“Cameron Ciraldo is obviously unhappy with some parts of his game and he’s been put back there to go and work on that.
“Sometimes you’ve just got to bite down and say ‘I’m just gonna work hard’. I’m not a big fan of one minor setback and asking for a release, wanting to change your environment.
“At the same time, I don’t know the full situation. From the outside looking in and putting together the things we know and rumours that we hear, that’s what it looks like.
“This is out of the blue – but if it was me, I’d be biting down and wanting to prove to you that I deserve that position.”
Despite the denials from Gould and Xerri’s camp about an early exit, the rumour mill has continued to go into overdrive, with the Panthers caught in the crossfire.
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Izack Tago – who has been left out of Penrith’s side for the first two games – had been linked as a potential player swap option for Xerri.
However, in a blunt response, Ivan Cleary claimed someone is “telling porky pies” and shut down any suggestion of Tago being forced out of the club for Xerri.
“I did hear about that – someone’s lying,” he told media on Monday morning.
“We love him [Tago] and someone has made up a lie there. It’s good for you guys, you get to run with it … but someone is telling porky pies.
Ivan Cleary has denied Bronson Xerri moving to Penrith. Getty/Nine
“All he can do at the moment is train. I mentioned after round one, his preparation was a little bit compromised due to situations that weren’t his fault.
“That was a little unfortunate for him, but that’s the way it is at the moment.
“We’ve got all the faith in the world in Tags, he’s kept his head up and trained really hard and each week, he’s a chance to get on the field anyway.”
Xerri’s future will likely remain a talking point, even with Penrith out of the equation as a destination should things not turn around at Belmore.
Aaron Woods believes the 25-year-old would be best served focusing on his game, pointing out a similar situation with one of the game’s best modern-day centres.
“Bloody hell, drama at the Dogs and they’ve just started the season really well,” he said on Triple M’s Breakfast With Beau, Kat and Woodsy.
“There was news on Saturday night that Bronson Xerri had asked for an immediate release, which absolutely came out of nowhere. There’s a lot of talk and innuendo that it could be a swap for Izack Tago at Penrith, who can’t get a start at the moment.
Izack Tago is on the outer at Penrith. Getty
“If I’m in this situation and get dropped, you’ve just got to work hard to get back in and I don’t know why you’re asking for an immediate release straight away – it’s round two.
“I remember when Jim Dymock took over at the Bulldogs, he dropped Josh Morris who had played Origin. He came back three weeks later, killed the back-half of the season and made the Australian side.
“Sometimes players just need a little bit of a nudge when they’re cruising, go back to reserve grade and work on your trade and get the fire back in the belly.
“No one is guaranteed a start in first grade, that jersey is not yours – it’s the club’s and you’re just wearing it.”
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