Coming Home: Montoya Returns to Bulldogs
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are pleased to announce the signing of hard-running metre-eating winger Marcelo Montoya, who will join the Club on a two-year deal.
The 28-year-old returns to Belmore following four seasons abroad in New Zealand, where he scored 30 tries in 82 appearances for the Warriors.
Montoya is a proud product of the Club’s Pathways system, where he graduated from the Harold Matthews Cup through to the National Youth Competition, before making his NRL debut in 2017 and claiming the Club’s Rookie of the Year award.
To date, he has played 54 NRL games for the Bulldogs, scoring 19 tries.
General Manager of Football Phil Gould AM lauded the addition of the Bankstown Bulls junior to the squad ahead of the 2025 season.
“It’s always pleasing to bring a local junior back home,” said Gould.
Returning to the NRL this year after a four-year ban, Xerri has been a constant regular in the starting team after beginning the season in the NSW Cup.
Earlier this season, Xerri revealed that he has grown so much as a person during the time that he has been away from rugby league and wants to help individuals who have gone through adversity in the past.
One of the best young outside backs in the competition back in 2019, his career came to a standstill later that year when it was found that he tested positive for a banned substance and was exiled from the NRL.
“I’ve grown so much as a person. I’ve got my close friends and family around me that helped me throughout those four years,” Xerri said
“I want to be that person that can help someone that’s gone through adversity or that has mental health issues. I definitely want to be that person.”
At only 24, the centre revealed how important his family and close friends were during the dark days he endured after being his with a drug ban by the NRL, especially his mother, who became his “rock”.
“There were some very dark days, so I needed them,” he continued.
“My mum was my rock the whole four years so to hear her say a speech after the game was very emotional. She’s the only one that’s seen me through my actual dark days.
“She told the club how hard those four years was for me and the family and she’s so proud of me and how resilient I am.
“I think any 18 or 19-year-old who went through what I went through probably wouldn’t come back from that, so I’m proud of myself.
“I could have put my head down and not had that dream again, but here I am and I’m coming back for more.”
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