The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have promptly begun their preparations for a future without Bronson Xerri.
According to The Daily Telegraph, the Belmore-based club is set to sign a two-year contract with Jesse McLean, an outside back from the Penrith Panthers.
Jesse, who is the older sibling of star Casey McLean from the Panthers and NSW Blues, made his mark at Penrith as a young player and was once seen as having greater potential than his younger brother.
Carving out his own journey, Jesse made his NRL debut during the 2023 season and scored a try in his second match the following year against the St George Illawarra Dragons in 2024.
Over the 2023 and 2024 seasons, he accumulated 20 tries from 30 appearances in the NSW Cup.
At present, Jesse is contracted with the Panthers until the end of 2028, necessitating a buyout of his remaining two years to facilitate the Bulldogs' acquisition.
The major hurdle has been securing consistent playtime at the NRL level, something that Canterbury could offer.
This two-year deal from the Bulldogs represents a genuine chance for Jesse to cement his place as the first-choice player he was anticipated to become while rising through the ranks at Penrith.
This season, in 11 NSW Cup games for the Panthers, he has scored 10 tries, achieved 54 tackle breaks, and maintains an average of 174 running metres per game with the best team in the competition.