Josh Addo-Carr’s future at Canterbury is now uncertain following the Bulldogs’ decision to sign winger Marcelo Montoya from the Warriors on a two-year deal. Addo-Carr, who has yet to meet with Bulldogs supremo Phil Gould and other club officials to discuss his NRL future, tested positive for cocaine after being stopped by police last month.
The 29-year-old received a fine, a four-game suspension, and was sidelined from Canterbury’s elimination final loss to Manly. Although Addo-Carr maintains his innocence despite two separate tests confirming cocaine in his system, Gould has stated that he hasn’t yet spoken to the former representative winger regarding his future with the club.
League journalist Michael Carayannis recently shared that Josh Addo-Carr has delayed talks with the Bulldogs, as he’s been focused on the birth of his second child with partner Lakaree Smith. This explains part of the reason for the hold-up in discussions. However, the Bulldogs’ signing of Warriors winger Marcelo Montoya hints that the club might be preparing for life without Addo-Carr next season.
Although Addo-Carr is under contract until 2025, Bulldogs supremo Phil Gould had previously warned that there would be consequences if the secondary drug test confirmed the initial positive result, which it did. Montoya becomes Canterbury’s first new signing since the Addo-Carr situation unfolded and strengthens a backline that recently lost rising star Jeral Skelton to the Wests Tigers.
Marcelo Montoya’s signing could signal Josh Addo-Carr’s potential departure from the Bulldogs. The Warriors agreed to release Montoya from the final year of his contract, allowing him to return to the Bulldogs, where he made his NRL debut in 2017. Bulldogs supremo Phil Gould expressed his delight at bringing a local junior back, praising Montoya’s passion, versatility, and experience, which will enhance the squad as he begins the next phase of his career at Canterbury.
Montoya was a key figure in the Warriors’ journey to the 2023 preliminary finals and has played 136 NRL games, 54 of which were with the Bulldogs. He’s set to rejoin the team for pre-season training in November, but Addo-Carr’s future with the club remains uncertain.
Canterbury Bulldogs’ leadership has yet to determine what action they will take against Josh Addo-Carr, but there is a strong possibility that he may have already played his final game for the club. This uncertainty remains despite Addo-Carr’s insistence that he never used illicit drugs and is unsure how cocaine was detected in his system during a roadside test.
Phil Gould, the Bulldogs’ supremo, revealed last month that Addo-Carr’s future at the club is ultimately in his hands, suggesting there’s still a chance he could stay with Canterbury through 2025. The Dragons had reportedly proposed a swap deal involving fellow winger Mikaele Ravalawa, though nothing has materialized yet. Gould mentioned he recently spoke with Addo-Carr’s manager, advising both the player and his team to carefully reflect on their future and discuss the situation with family before making any decisions.
“I like Josh. He’s been a great asset to our club and has contributed a lot,” said Phil Gould. “However, it’s unfortunate that he keeps letting himself down in certain situations. I want him to take some time to think about what’s best for his future, then come back and have a conversation with me. Josh is reaching a point in his career where he needs to decide where he wants to play and what his future looks like.”