Bronson Xerri choked back tears as his mother Teresa made an emotional speech after Friday night’s dramatic 30-26 win about her pride in how he hard he had fought to return to the NRL against Sydney Roosters.
Xerri, whose last NRL appearance was in 2019 for Cronulla, received a late call-up for his Bulldogs debut after winger Blake Wilson withdrew due to illness, so Teresa presented him with his jersey after the match.
Addressing Canterbury players and coaching staff in the dressing room at Accor Stadium, Teresa told them of the struggles Xerri had endured to earn another opportunity after a four-year drugs ban.
“It’s been a long, tough journey – not only for myself, but for my family,” Xerri said. “There were some very dark days, so I needed them.
“My mum was my rock the whole four years so just to hear her say a speech after the game was very emotional, because she’s the only one that’s seen me through my actual darkest days.
“She just told the club how hard those four years were for me and for my family. She’s just proud of me and how resilient I am.
“I think that any 18 or 19-year-old that went through what I did wouldn’t probably come back from that so I’m proud of myself.
“I could have just put my head down and not had that dream again and just not believed in myself but here I am, and I’m coming for more.”
After being selected for his NRL debut in Round 4 of the 2019 Telstra Premiership, the Sharks recorded a video of the then 18-year-old breaking the news to his parents that went viral on social media.
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