Jarome Luai detail comes to light amid massive Terrell May development at Wests Tigers
Rival clubs are circling after May was told by the Roosters he's free to leave.
Jarome Luai's influence may have paved the way for Terrell May to sign with the Wests Tigers after the prop was told by the Roosters he was free to explore his options elsewhere. The Roosters only this year extended May on a two-year deal worth a reported $950,000 but are understood to have concerns around the 25-year-old's attitude towards footy after an interview in September where he admitted his interest in rugby league often wavers.
“I gave it away twice, when I was 18 and then when I was 20,” May said at the time. Both times I just didn’t want to play any more. I get like that throughout the year... It’s a weird feeling. I don’t think many people experience it where one week they love the game and go on the TV screens and the next week they don’t want to be there at all."
The Roosters have decided that May does not fit into the club's plans and their decision to allow him to leave has left a number of rival NRL clubs circling, including the Tigers, Bulldogs and Dragons. It's understood May has already held discussions with Dragons coach Shane Flanagan and Bulldogs mentor Cameron Ciraldo, with The Daily Telegraph reporting the 25-year-old also sat down for a face-to-face chat with Benji Marshall on Tuesday.
The same report says the meeting came off the back of May's time in Samoa camp with the Tigers' marquee signing Luai, during their recent two-Test series against England. Luai is said to be very close with the May family having previously played with Terrell's brothers Taylan and Tyrone at the Panthers.
It's understood Tigers coach Marshall walked away from the face-to-face with May very impressed and the prop's bond with Luai could hold the key to his potential move. The Tigers are in the market for a quality front-rower after losing Stefano Utoikamanu to the Storm.
Trent Robinson explains reasons for letting Terrell May leave
Roosters coach Robinson is said to have phoned May while the prop was in England with the Samoa squad to explain the club's decision to let him leave. Robinson told The Daily Telegraph that the prop had not done anything wrong and the move had nothing to do with his character, but admitted to having concerns around his "longevity" in the game.
“Terrell is not going to have trouble finding a club, the quality he plays with. He is not of bad character, he has not done anything wrong," Robinson said. “I think that has been thrown out there. He has been a value add to our group and there are just some small bits there around how we want to play and also the longevity of Terrell.
“We felt like it was time to move in a different direction and expressed that to Terrell. The difficult thing has been that people have questioned his character around that and that shouldn’t be the case.” The expected release of May will give the Roosters even more salary cap space to make moves for players after the departures stars Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Luke Keary, Joseph Manu and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.
Roosters linked with move for veteran No.7 Ben Hunt
Veteran halfback Ben Hunt has emerged as a key target, with Robinson already admitting the former Dragons captain is a among the options he’s looking at to “cover” key positions in season 2025 when they’ll be without injured spine members Sam Walker and Brandon Smith for a significant period. Walker and Smith suffered ACL injuries in the round 26 loss to Canberra which will likely keep the pair out for the opening months of the season.
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The Roosters currently have Sandon Smith and Chad Townsend on the books, with Connor Watson likely to start at hooker next year, but Hunt would solve their problems until the injured duo return. “He (Hunt) is an exceptional player and has done it for a long time,” Robinson said on Tuesday... if the opportunity arises to accommodate that seven and nine position in different ways then we will, but it has to be right for the next couple of years as well.
“There are a couple of players that we’re looking at because of the injuries with a nine and a seven (going down). It didn’t only affect the back end of this year, but it also affects the start of next year as well. We’re really comfortable with some of the young guys coming through, but we are also looking at covering those positions if it’s right. We don’t feel like we’re in a rush, but if it’s right then we’ll look at options.”
with AAP
