A winger who played just 18 games, scored just six tries and was rubbed out for a month for a homophobic slur is in the running to be named the best player in the .
Warrior’s back Marcelo Montoya’s inclusion on the Rugby League Players Association’s [RLPA] 64-name Players Champion Award nominee list has highlighted the ridiculousness of the selection process.
While he is an impossible long shot, hypothetically Montoya could be crowned players champion, despite the 26-year-old’s slur where he told North Cowboys winger Kyle Feldt to ‘get up, you f***ot’.
Warriors winger Marcelo Montoya is sent to the sin-bin during New Zealand’s round three match against the Tigers
The Kiwi was banned for four matches by the NRL for his homophobic slur in the round five clash won 25-24 by the Warriors.
Under NRL rules, the Dally M points system deducts players for suspensions, while in , players are ruled out of the race for the Brownlow Medal if found guilty of an on-field offence.
Regardless of Montoya’s suspension, as a player, his statistics and selection for the top gong is questionable anyway.
RLPA CEO Clint Newtown speaks to the media in March – the association have nominated 64-players for the Champion’s award
The 2021 recruit, who was recruited from the Bulldogs, has played 18 games throughout the season and scored six tries.
Montoya has averaged just over 100 running metres per game, and while he has been a decent performer for an overly inconsistent Warriors outfit, he is nowhere near the elite players of the game.
Senior journalist Peter Badel said Montoya had a ‘better chance of winning Powerball than the Players’ Champion [Award]’.
‘RLPA organisers should scratch Montoya immediately, which would only leave 63 contenders for the Players’ Champion.’
The contenders list is made up of four players from each club, where the club decides three of their own stars and the RLPA board choosing the final player.
Sea Eagles skipper Daly Cherry-Evans is the general president of the RLPA, while fellow players Wade Graham, Christian Welch and Josh Hodgson have director roles.
Montoya is tackled by Cowboys winger Kyle Feldt during round five at Moreton Stadium in Brisbane – the Warriors flyer later called Feldt a ‘f***ot’
Tohu Harris, Wayde Egan and Addin Fonua-Blake were named alongside Montoya while minor premiers the Panthers, named captains Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo, plus quiet achievers Apisai Koroisau and Dylan Edwards.
The 90-game 2017 Bulldogs rookie of the year pleaded guilty after his charge, telling the judiciary it would never happen again.
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‘I acknowledge and accept that the comment I made on Friday night is completely unacceptable,’ Montoya said on a video link.
‘If you know the person I am you would know this is completely out of character. I am fully remorseful for my actions.
In saying all of this I would like to apologise to Kyle Feldt, to the NRL and to the gay community, and anyone else that I have offended, as I know and respect the work that the NRL has done to ensure inclusiveness and diversity within the NRL community.’
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo speaks to the media during a press conference in August – in the Dally M system, the NRL deduct points off players for in-season suspensions
Two weeks into Montoya’s suspension, the Warriors were thumped 70-10 by the Storm, where Xavier Coates scored four tries.