Ciraldo said Xerri, who was injured for much of the pre-season, should look no further than Sexton for inspiration. Sexton lost the Bulldogs No.7 jersey to recruit Lachlan Galvin last year, worked on areas of his game in reserve grade without complaint, and was recalled at the back end of the season.
While there ultimately wasn’t a long-term place for Sexton at the club, the way he handled himself endeared him to Canterbury fans and earned him subsequent contracts with the Catalans Dragons and Perth Bears when they enter the NRL in 2027.
Former Bulldogs halfback Toby Sexton.Credit: Getty Images
“That’s a great example,” Ciraldo said.
“I don’t want to go back too much to last year, but he was a great example of dealing with disappointment and getting on with your job …
“Your first response, sometimes you can’t control, but your second response you can.
“So 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. Bronson Xerri at his best will force his way back into our team somewhere, but the ball’s totally in his court.”
Xerri is contracted until the end of 2027, and while he hasn’t requested a release, there’s speculation he could do so if his stint in the NSW Cup isn’t brief.
Asked if Xerri had been told he wouldn’t earn a contract extension beyond 2027, Ciraldo said: “I haven’t been part of every conversation with contracts and with managers and things like that. I don’t believe that’s true, but I’m not totally sure to be honest.”
Canterbury players were wearing ‘We before me’ t-shirts as they boarded the bus at their Belmore quarters for the road trip to the nation’s capital. Ciraldo said it is a timely reminder of what’s expected of all players at the Bulldogs.
“We love Bronson, he’s been an important part of our group over the last couple of years,” Ciraldo said.
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“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.
“We didn’t like his reaction to start with, but we’re here to support him. That’s coaching, we’ve got to challenge and support him ’till the day he leaves his club.
“Whether that’s 10 days, 10 weeks or 10 years, we’ll be here to challenge him and support him and try to make him the best footballer and the best person he can be.”
