In some exciting signing news, the Sharks have retained the services of boom young centre Bronson Xerri on a long-term deal that will see him remain at the club until the end of the 2021 season.
Xerri, who turns 18 next week, will move onto the Sharks top 30 player list and become part of the full-time training group from next year.
A local junior from the Aquinas Colts club and a student at Endeavour Sports High School, Xerri has come through the ranks, having represented the Sharks at Matthews Cup, SG Ball and at Jersey Flegg level, where he is currently a member of the Cronulla 20's team that will contest an elimination final on Sunday.
The youngster also stepped up and played for the Newtown Jets in the Intrust Super Premiership earlier in 2018, Xerri scoring three tries on debut at the senior level.
In addition, he has also been a fixture in NSW age group teams in recent years, having played both 18's and 20's Origin for the Blues, while the Endeavour High year 12 student was selected in the Australian Schoolboys squad to tour the UK later in the year.
He will decline the opportunity to travel with the schoolboys however, preferring to spend the summer training with the Sharks NRL squad as he chases his goal of an NRL debut in 2019.
"It's exciting times for myself and my family," Xerri said upon signing his new contract. "It's been a good year for myself, I'm really proud of myself, but at the end of the day, my goal is to debut next year and hopefully I can achieve that.
"I'll work as hard as I can on my game and train hard for it."
Sharks Head NRL Coach Shane Flanagan was pleased to have secured the services of the exciting young prospect for the next three years and predicted big things in the seasons ahead.
"Bronson has certainly ticked all the boxes this year, having played for NSW, selected in the Australian schoolboys, he played for Newtown in the NSW Cup. He's come through our elite pathways system here at the club and we have big hopes for him," Flanagan said.
"As for playing first grade next year, he's physically up to it but it's about learning and understanding our systems and structures, about playing against men, not boys, but if he has a good pre-season, there's no reason why not."
Xerri will this week play in the centres for the Sharks under 20's Jersey Flegg side in their finals match against the Bulldogs this weekend.
The Flegg Sharks finished second at the end of the regular season, before going down to the Panthers in week one of the finals, however they get a second chance when they face the Bulldogs at Kogarah Jubilee Oval on Sunday, that match getting underway at 5.30pm.
On signing his new contract, Xerri spoke to Sharks TV. He is interview is now available.
You have skipped the navigation, tab for page content
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks respect and honour the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.
