Bryan Fletcher goes public with new details on why Roosters released Terrell May to Tigers
May sealed his switch on Monday after the Roosters' shock call to let him go.
Roosters great Bryan Fletcher has shone new light around the reasons why the NRL club made the shock decision to release Terrell May, whose move to the Wests Tigers was confirmed on Monday. May has agreed to join Benji Marshall's Tigers on an immediate three-year deal reportedly worth $2 million after being told he wasn't in Roosters coach Trent Robinson's plans going forward.
The Roosters' decision to let May go took the NRL world by shock after he enjoyed a breakout season and was one of the club's most consistent forwards in 2024. It's understood the Roosters were concerned about May's attitude towards footy after the 25-year-old admitted in an interview earlier this year that his love of the sport often wavers and sometimes he does not feel like playing the game.
Speaking on SEN, Fletcher hailed May's signing as a "terrific" bit of business for the Tigers and praised the prop for speaking honestly about his feelings towards the game. But Fletcher admitted that became a concern for the club and claimed another incident where May did not want to attend a Roosters function may have been the catalyst for them to part ways.
"I think it's a terrific signing. I know he's had his issues... but one thing I like about him is he shows character," Fletcher said. "He came out and he was very honest saying 'I don't know if I want to play this game' but he's only just a baby. That's what I've heard the Roosters were worried about. I think it's a little bit to do with that and there were other incidents where - this is what I got told - that there was a function to go to and he wasn't up for it."
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Regardless, Fletcher insisted that May had a good relationship with coach Robinson and warned the Roosters that they might regret letting the prop go - particularly after the departure of veteran middle forward Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. "He still played nearly every game last season and I think he's a terrific player so I wish him all the luck. I think it's a bad move from the Chooks but we'll wait and see."
May's exit gives the Roosters even more room in their salary cap to make an expected play for Ben Hunt, although Fletcher believes May has a lot more upside at this point in his career than the veteran No.7.
Wests Tigers land huge coup with signing of Terrell May
For Marshall's Tigers, they've made a quality like-for-like signing to replace Storm-bound prop Stefano Utoikamanu. More importantly, May's deal comes in significantly less than what Utoikamanu was on and Fletcher believes it represents a massive win for Marshall's men.
"Stefano on his day is very hard to contain but it was his inconsistencies that I felt (let him down)," Fletcher added. "And now they're going to get a player who I think has more upside and probably at the same level as Stefano (Utoikamanu) for half the price."
The Tigers beat out the Dragons for the services of May, whose relationship with fellow recruit and Samoa star Jarome Luai was understood to be central to the move. May and Luai join Sunia Turuva and Jack Bird as the Tigers' other major signings for 2025. May played all 27 games for the Roosters last season and finished the year with the most offloads out of all the props in the NRL and says he can't wait to start the latest chapter of his career.
“I’m really excited about this opportunity, and I can’t wait to get stuck into pre-season,” May said after officially joining the Tigers. “This is a club with a very bright future, and I want to be a big part of that future. I know quite a few of the boys really well and they all speak fondly of the club and its people.”
May will be hoping to help the Tigers avoid a fourth straight wooden spoon in 2025 and Marshall is excited about his what new signing brings to the club. “Terrell is a good person first and foremost, and it’s great that he will be joining us," the Tigers coach said. He’s coming off an impressive season, and at just 25, his best years are ahead of him. I look forward to welcoming Terrell and his family to our club.”
with agencies
