Cronulla teen sensation Bronson Xerri appears as quick as anyone in the NRL but not even he's backing a sprint to international stardom as fast as Clint Gutherson has predicted for him.
Xerri made the highlights reel on debut last week against Parramatta when he gave Gutherson a three-metre start but sprinted past the flyer in a length-of-the-field chase for the ball.
It prompted Gutherson to declare Xerri a Kangaroo in the making on Twitter, claiming the 18-year-old "will play for Australia in three years" after beating him to the ball in "second gear".
"It was crazy reading that," Xerri admitted ahead of Saturday's clash with the Sydney Roosters.
"Much respect to Gutho for saying it. I'll back myself, but I couldn't say I'll be playing for Australia in three years.
"I'm just trying to earn my spot week in, week out in the NRL squad here."
Ducking and weaving hype is nothing new for Xerri - he's been doing it for six months before making his NRL debut.
Highlighted by then-coach Shane Flanagan as the ideal replacement for the NFL-bound Valentine Holmes, it was revealed Cronulla wanted to debut Xerri last year at age 17 but couldn't due to NRL rules.
He also created headlines in a trial in February against Manly, scoring a long-range try before having to wait behind Josh Morris and Josh Dugan in the centres come round one before Matt Moylan's injury brought him into the side.
"I try not to read into it (the hype). I try to stay grounded; my parents keep me grounded," Xerri said.
"I haven't achieved much - I've played one NRL game. My goal is to have a bright future in the game."
Xerri's chase on Gutherson, and the breakneck speed he threatens to show once he gets ball in clear space, has had him compared to mighty mare Winx.
But the modest Xerri claims he's not even the quickest at Cronulla in 2019, suggesting that title belongs to winger Sione Katoa.
"Nah, no way. He's too quick," Katoa rebutted.
"You can already tell from training how quick he is and from the weekend, too. He is too quick - too quick for me."
