In a major shift for the National Rugby League (NRL), 25-year-old centre Bronson Xerri is set to leave the Canterbury Bulldogs and join powerhouse side Melbourne Storm on a three-year contract, kicking off in the 2027 season.
The Storm, which has been actively bolstering its outside back squad following confirmation that key players Will Warbrick and Nick Meaney will depart at the end of this current season, beat out competing suitors for Xerri’s signature. Jack Howarth’s future with the Victorian club also remains up in the air, making the addition of a proven, physical centre even more critical for the franchise. The signing of Xerri follows the club’s earlier capture of another elite outside back, Jamayne Isaako, who will also join the side in 2027.
Although Xerri still had a year remaining on his existing contract with the Bulldogs, the Belmore-based club granted him an early release to facilitate the move, and he will remain with Canterbury for the rest of the 2025 NRL season.
Melbourne Storm’s director of football Frank Ponissi expressed clear enthusiasm for the recruit in a statement announcing the deal, highlighting Xerri’s on-field strengths that align with the club’s playing style. “He’s a tough, competitive player with great speed and athleticism who we believe will be an important addition to our outside backs heading into the next three years,” Ponissi said. “We look forward to welcoming Bronson and his family to Melbourne ahead of the 2027 season.”
Xerri’s path to this new contract has been anything but conventional. After serving a four-year ban for violations of anti-doping policies related to performance-enhancing substance use, the Bulldogs offered him a career lifeline to return to top-flight NRL competition. To date, he has notched 54 appearances for the club, and his standout form this season includes a dominant round 12 performance against the Storm itself, where he ran for 207 metres and broke 13 tackles.
Earlier this 2025 season, Xerri’s future at Canterbury was thrown into question after he was dropped from the top side just one game into the campaign, following the club’s season-opening win in Las Vegas. Club officials were initially disappointed with how he responded to his demotion to the second-tier NSW Cup competition, but Xerri worked his way back into first-team contention, and impressed hierarchy with his improved professionalism in the months that followed. He was later moved to the bench to accommodate a positional reshuffle that shifted Matt Burton to centre and Stephen Crichton to five-eighth.
In a statement following the signing announcement, Xerri thanked his current club for the opportunity that got his career back on track. “I’ve really enjoyed my time as a Bulldog and have been lucky enough to form friendships that will last a lifetime,” he said. “This club gave me an opportunity to return to the NRL and for that I am truly grateful. Although I will move onto a new chapter next year, I want to make it clear that I am fully committed to finishing this season on a positive note.”