During a recent match against Manly, Bulldogs centre Bronson Xerri experienced a serious setback just before half-time. He was injured while attempting to tackle Manly forward Haumole Olakau’atu, and in the process, accidentally took a blow to the head from Viliame Kikau’s leg as Kikau tackled a supporting player, Lehi Hopoate. Unfortunately, Xerri fell to the ground immediately, and commentators noted the troubling nature of the incident.
Billy Slater, commentating for Nine, remarked on the ‘friendly fire’ that had occurred, highlighting Xerri’s immediate injury. It was later revealed that Xerri was bleeding from the nose and was assessed for a concussion, deemed a category two during his Head Injury Assessment (HIA).
Xerri’s exit from the match could have been critical, as it led to a try by Manly winger Jason Saab, pushing the score to 12-4 after prior tries from Samuel Hughes and Jacob Kiraz. Xerri had been instrumental in the first half, even causing Toafofoa Sipley to be put on report with one of his runs.
Despite the alarming injury, Xerri managed to make a return to the field for the second half after successfully passing his HIA. This incident underscores the physical demands of rugby and the potential for injury, emphasizing both player safety and the fast-paced nature of the game.