Taylan May: Charges dropped, Wests Tigers deal, brother Terrell

Taylan May’s NRL career seemed to be hanging by a thread early in 2025. In March, domestic violence charges against the then-23-year-old winger were dropped when the complainant failed to appear in court, and by June he had signed with the Wests Tigers.

Date of birth: 19 August 2001 · Current NRL club: Wests Tigers (since mid-2025) · International team: Samoa · Position: Centre / Winger

Key facts about Taylan May at a glance:

What happened to Taylan May?

In early 2025, May faced three criminal charges — assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two counts of stalking and intimidation — over alleged incidents in April and May of the previous year. He pleaded not guilty to all counts (ESPN sports news outlet). The case was scheduled for hearing at Penrith Local Court on 10 March 2025, but the complainant did not appear, and all charges were withdrawn. Costs were awarded against the prosecution, with the legal bill reported to exceed A$20,000 (ESPN sports news outlet). Following the withdrawal, May remained subject to an apprehended violence order for six months (ESPN sports news outlet).

Career update after leaving the Panthers

May had been stood down under the NRL’s no-fault policy while the criminal case was active (ESPN sports news outlet). Once the charges were dropped, the path to an NRL return opened. In June 2025 he signed a train-and-trial deal with the Wests Tigers (Wests Tigers official club website), and by September he had earned a two-year extension that keeps him at the club until the end of the 2027 season (Wests Tigers official club website).

Why did Taylan May leave the Panthers?

May’s departure from Penrith was directly tied to the legal issues. After the charges were laid, the club terminated his contract, citing a contractual breach (ESPN sports news outlet).

Legal issues and club decision

Penrith released May in July 2024, reportedly after he threatened to sue the club over what he saw as an attempted contract termination (ESPN sports news outlet). The NRL’s no-fault stand-down policy meant he could not play while the case was active, leaving Penrith little room to keep him on roster. The implication: the club chose reputation management over retaining a developing player.

Contract situation at Penrith

May had debuted for Penrith in 2021 and was considered a promising outside back, but the legal case derailed his trajectory. The club’s decision to cut ties was a clear signal that it would not wait for the court outcome.

Are Terrell May and Taylan May related?

Yes — Terrell May is Taylan’s older brother (ESPN sports news outlet). Tyrone May is also their brother. The three grew up in Tregear, Mount Druitt, one of Sydney’s most disadvantaged suburbs (Wikipedia encyclopedia).

Family ties with Terrell and Tyrone

• Terrell May: older brother, also an NRL prop who joined Wests Tigers in 2025 after playing for Sydney Roosters
• Tyrone May: older brother who previously played NRL for Penrith and Catalans Dragons
• All three spent their junior years in Penrith’s junior development system

The Wests Tigers described the brothers’ decision to extend together as “fulfilling a childhood dream” of playing in the NRL side by side (Wests Tigers official club website).

What does Taylan May do now?

May is currently a centre/winger for the Wests Tigers in the NRL. He appeared in the final seven fixtures of the 2025 season, scoring four tries, three try assists, and six line breaks (Wests Tigers official club website).

Current NRL career with Wests Tigers

After signing a train-and-trial deal in June 2025, May quickly forced his way into the first-grade side. The club cited his desire to “continue his career alongside his brother” as a key factor in offering an extension (Wests Tigers official club website).

Contract extension until 2030

In May 2026, both Terrell and Taylan May signed extensions with the Wests Tigers that run through the end of the 2030 NRL season (Wests Tigers official club website).

What is the controversy with Taylan May?

The controversy centres on the criminal charges May faced and the timing of his contract announcement. Critics argued that the club rushed to sign a player whose case had only just been dropped, and that the six-month AVO was still in place when the extension was announced.

Criminal charges and court outcome

May was charged with domestic violence-related offences in 2024. The charges were withdrawn on 10 March 2025 after the complainant did not appear in court (ESPN sports news outlet).

Contract announcement backlash

When the Wests Tigers announced the two-year extension in September 2025, social media and some media outlets questioned whether the club had handled the publicity sensitively. The club stood by its decision, noting that the court had cleared May.

For the Wests Tigers and their fans, the gamble on Taylan May is showing early returns: tries, line breaks, and a settled family dynamic in the backline. But the legal shadows haven’t fully lifted, and the long-term contract puts the club’s reputation on the line. May must stay on the straight path, or risk losing the comeback he fought for.

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