There was no carefully crafted press release or teary farewell announcement, just an undertaking from the softly spoken flyer should his rugby union adventure not go to plan then he wants to be back at Belmore.

Confessing he is still in "shock" over a decision to switch codes – and sides of the continent – to link with the Western Force and be closer to family, the 24-year-old has revealed the emotional torment in taking up a two-year deal with the struggling Super Rugby franchise.

"I'm still shocked myself that I won't be here next year because Belmore is like my second home and I know that if I ever return to the NRL it will be with the Bulldogs because I love them so dearly," Perth-bred Rona said. "It was definitely one of the hardest decisions of my life.

"This was going on for a while. Sometimes I'm still unsure [about the move], but with me making this decision it took a lot of weight off my shoulders. I don't want to have that pressure coming into the finals not knowing what I'm doing next year. I made the decision and it's about family for me."

Rona grew up in Perth and is no stranger to the 15-man game despite forging a name for himself in rugby league with the Cowboys before bursting onto the scene with the Bulldogs where he was the competition's joint leading try scorer alongside Parramatta's Semi Radradra last year.

He has a brother and sister who still live in Perth while his wife Jacinta's family are also based in the west. The rest of Rona's family live in Townsville where his younger brother Jayden is contracted to the Cowboys.

"We're in Sydney by ourselves and it's been tough bringing up a young one and not having that family support," Rona said. "Maybe in a couple of years I might return put that blue and white jersey on. It would be a special moment. In saying that there's still unfinished business and our best footy is yet to come."

The Bulldogs, who can all but secure a top-four finish with victory over the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night, might have their best footy still yet to come. And so does Rona.

Having successfully switched to the centres this year, Rona will be eligible for Wallabies selection having previously represented the Junior Kiwis and been a part of Stephen Kearney's travelling squad for the England Test series last year.

"I think it's going to be a quick transition [back to rugby union]," Rona said. "I've played it before so it's not like it's unfamiliar territory. I was brought up on both [rugby league and rugby union].

"If you're playing well enough you can be picked for anyone. It will be interesting how things go and see what the movements with the Wallabies are."