Marcelo Montoya looms as a possible replacement for Josh Addo-Carr after the Warriors winger signed a two-year deal to return to Canterbury.
As Montoya prepares to join his former club for pre-season in November, Addo-Carr’s future remains in limbo following last month’s drug-driving saga.
The 29-year-old was handed a fine and four-game ban for testing positive to cocaine only days before the Bulldogs’ fairytale return to the NRL finals, but can count the elimination final loss to Manly towards his suspension.
Addo-Carr remains contracted for 2025 but Canterbury football boss Phil Gould previously intimated there could be consequences for his future at the club should his secondary drug test confirm the initial positive reading.
Montoya is the Bulldogs’ first new recruit since that secondary test came back positive and helps replenish a backline that has lost Jeral Skelton to Wests Tigers.
The Warriors agreed to release Montoya from the final year of his contract to pave the way for his return to the Bulldogs, who handed him his NRL debut in 2017.
“It’s always pleasing to bring a local junior back home,” said Gould.
“Marcelo is very passionate in the way he conducts himself both on and off the field.
“His versatility in the backline and his experience will certainly complement our squad as he enters this next chapter of his career at the Bulldogs.”
Montoya featured on the Warriors’ run to the 2023 preliminary finals and has played 136 first-grade games to date, 54 of those for the Bulldogs.
© AAP