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Massive blow for Bulldogs as young star leaves NRL club and returns home to Queensland
Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould has seemingly confirmed that one of the NRL club's most highly-rated talents has left Canterbury and returned home to be closer to family in Queensland. David Bryenton – a teenage fullback prodigy who was named schoolboy player of the year in 2025 – had signed a deal with Canterbury after the Canberra Raiders also tried to snare him.
Bryenton initially agreed to join the Raiders this season, but had a change of heart and signed with the Bulldogs instead. But Gould revealed this week the teenager has returned to Queensland and left the club.
"David has returned home to QLD to be with his family," Gould wrote on social media platform X. "He is well…"
Bulldogs v Panthers: Xerri recalled; Kenny back from ban
After starting the season with two wins the Bulldogs have now lost two straight and must confront the red-hot Panthers without skipper Stephen Crichton who is nursing a knee injury.
So dominant have the Panthers been that their points differential of +150 is highest in premiership history after five rounds and right now it's hard to see how anyone will shut them down.
If the Bulldogs are to be the first team to lower Penrith's colours they will need a massive lift in defensive intensity after giving up 56 points in their losses to the Knights and Rabbitohs.
The last time these sides met was the 2025 semi-final at Accor Stadium and it was the Panthers piling on 46 points to march into a preliminary final and end the Dogs' season in the process.
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Ciraldo not looking too far ahead about Xerri's future
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Cameron Ciraldo has refused to guarantee Bronson Xerri's future at Canterbury despite the centre's dramatic turnaround in attitude ahead of his NRL comeback.
Stephen Crichton's AC joint injury clears the way for 25-year-old Xerri to line up at left centre against undefeated Penrith on Thursday night.
Bronson Xerri will look to prove himself in Steph Chrichton's absence. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
The Bulldogs will have a clearer picture about Crichton's return-to-play timeline next week, but Ciraldo expects the 12-time NSW representative will be fit for the State of Origin series opener on May 27.
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