The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs wish to share that Marcelo Montoya has retired from the NRL, effective immediately.
After announcing in June his plans to retire at the end of the season, the 30-year-old has since decided to call time on his career early.
Montoya, a local junior, played 162 NRL games across stints with the Bulldogs and Warriors. He also represented Fiji on nine occasions.
Montoya will remain at the Club, moving into a role in the NRL wellbeing space while also assisting our pathways coaches.
“Although I had the intention to finish off the season, the reality is my body just can’t keep up with the rigors of first-grade footy anymore,” Montoya said.
“I want to thank the Bulldogs for giving me my NRL debut back in 2017 and for bringing me back home to allow me to finish my career where it started.
I’m excited to begin my next chapter - and will be cheering the boys on as they prepare for a big back end of the season.
Phil Gould AM paid tribute to the quality player and person that Montoya is.
“Marcelo has been wonderful for our Club since his return,” he said.
His professionalism and work ethic, his care factor for his team-mates, his toughness and resilience, have all been an example to our younger generation of players. He’s been a valuable and very popular team member.
“He’s a real Bulldog.”
