'Body was never so sore': Xerri's warning to NRL

Three games into his return from a four-year stint in NRL purgatory, Bronson Xerri has sent his opponents a chilling warning.

The Bulldogs centre, back in the big league after serving a performance-enhancing drugs ban, is playing strongly – but believes he will get a whole lot better.

"I was out for a long time and while I was training just about every day, it's not the same as playing," Xerri told Wide World of Sports.

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"I'm still finding my fitness and my timing – I'm happy with the way I've returned but believe I can get much better.

"It's been a tough journey and a learning lesson for me, the past four years, and I'm just glad I'm back."

Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo started the 23-year-old in the NSW Cup for the opening three rounds of his comeback season – and Xerri is happy he did.

"It would have been really hard coming straight back into the NRL," the former Shark said.

"Playing reserve grade allowed me to find my feet and get my confidence back – but it's still a process."

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Xerri, who worked with sprint guru Roger Fabri during his four-year banishment, is still finding the right mix of pace and power.

"I was 95 kilos when I was last playing – now I'm up to 101," he explained.

"I'm probably the same speed thanks to Roger but I aim to drop two to three kilos and maybe get faster still.

"The game has definitely got quicker in just four years and after my first trial a few months ago, my body was never so sore.

"I'm still doing a lot of huffing and puffing but getting fitter every game."

The critics on social media haven't allowed Xerri to forget his big mistake in taking steroids to overcome a nagging injury four years ago but he has learned to shrug them off.

"I've found that there are plenty of haters out there but only online – I just block that all out," he said.

"They can keep hating. They are just keyboard cowards and they don't worry me."