Marcelo Montoya: Retirement, Wife, and His NRL Career

Marcelo Montoya has spent a decade in the NRL, but this season will be his last. The Bulldogs winger announced his retirement in June 2026, closing a career that took him from Fiji to the top of Australian rugby league.

Age (as of 2026): 30 ·
Current NRL Club: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs ·
Playing Position: Winger / Centre ·
Nationality: Fijian ·
Retirement Announcement: June 17, 2026

Seven key facts about Montoya, from his full name to his podcast, are outlined below.

Who is Marcelo Montoya’s wife?

Tayla Montoya: Background

• Marcelo Montoya is married to Tayla Montoya (The Bye Round)
• The Bye Round describes Tayla as “the chaos to his calm” in the podcast branding

How They Met

• The couple’s love story is featured across media and on their podcast “The Montoyas”
• The podcast follows “Aussie imports assimilating into New Zealand as a newly married couple” (iHeart)

The implication: For a player who built his reputation on Fijian grit, sharing his marriage so openly creates a distinctive, relatable brand that may outlast his playing days.

Does Marcelo Montoya still play?

Retirement Announcement

• Marcelo Montoya announced he will retire at the end of the 2026 NRL season (Bulldogs official website)
• The announcement was published on June 17, 2026

2026 Season Plans

• Montoya said he is “100% focused on finishing this season off strongly” after the announcement (Bulldogs)
• He returned to Belmore for the 2025 season and played 26 games over the previous two years (Bulldogs)

What this means: The Bulldogs lose a reliable back who brought experience and Fijian passion. For Montoya, finishing strong is both a personal goal and a way to thank the club.

What culture is Marcelo Montoya?

Fijian Heritage

• Marcelo Montoya is of Fijian descent (Bulldogs Instagram)
• The Bulldogs described him as a proud Fijian representative

Representing Fiji Bati

• He represents the Fiji Bati national rugby league team
• Montoya has played nine Test matches for Fiji and scored four tries (Yahoo Sports Australia)

The pattern: Fiji produces some of the NRL’s most dynamic outside backs, and Montoya’s nine Test caps place him among that tradition. His retirement will be felt in the Fijian rugby community.

What happened to Marcelo Montoya?

End of Playing Career

• Marcelo Montoya is retiring from the NRL at the end of the 2026 season (Bulldogs)
• His retirement was announced via the Bulldogs official website on June 17, 2026

Reason for Retirement

• The decision is a personal one as he steps away from professional rugby league
• Montoya said, “I started my career here so it feels right to also finish it as a Bulldog” (Bulldogs)

The trade-off: Montoya leaves the NRL at age 30, still in his physical prime by many standards, but the decision suggests he values family and life balance over a few more seasons. For the Bulldogs, it’s an early transition in their backline.

Why is Marcelo Montoya retiring?

Career Reflections

• Marcelo Montoya began his NRL career with the Bulldogs in 2017 (Yahoo Sports Australia)
• He played 82 matches for the New Zealand Warriors (Yahoo Sports Australia)
• Total NRL matches: 162 as of the retirement announcement (Yahoo Sports Australia)

Future Plans

• Montoya has not announced post-retirement plans
• The podcast “The Montoyas” may continue, but no confirmation yet

Timeline of Marcelo Montoya’s NRL career

• 2022–2026 — Played for Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs; returned to Belmore for 2025 season (Bulldogs)
• 17 June 2026 — Announced retirement at end of 2026 season (Bulldogs)

What’s confirmed — and what’s still unclear

Confirmed facts

• Marcelo Montoya is retiring at the end of the 2026 NRL season (Bulldogs)
• He is married to Tayla Montoya and co-hosts “The Montoyas” (The Bye Round)
• He is of Fijian nationality (Bulldogs Instagram)
• He plays for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
• He has played 162 NRL games across two clubs (Yahoo Sports Australia)

What’s unclear

• Exact reasons for retirement (described as a personal decision)
• Post-retirement career plans
• Whether the podcast “The Montoyas” will continue
• Exact salary and net worth figures
• Exact birth date not independently verified
• Exact number of NRL matches may change after current season

“I started my career here so it feels right to also finish it as a Bulldog.” — Marcelo Montoya, via Bulldogs official website

Bulldogs

The Bulldogs described Montoya as a key member of Cameron Ciraldo’s squad, highlighting his contributions on and off the field.

Bulldogs official website

For the Bulldogs, Montoya’s departure means replacing a reliable back who brought Fijian passion to the squad. For Montoya, the next chapter — whether in media, community work, or something else — will test the resilience he showed on the field.

Frequently asked questions