The two words that convinced Terrell May to join Tigers

Terrell May only needed to hear two words from Benji Marshall to join Wests Tigers as the NRL club's most significant middle forward signing in years.

Family first.

The Sydney Roosters stunned the rugby league world in late October by giving newly re-signed May permission to negotiate with rival clubs following a breakout season that had him on the cusp of NSW selection.

May has since moved on from the tough break-up.

"I just feel like I'm a Tiger now and I'm in the present," he said.

"I don't want to talk about the past anymore, whatever's said was said, let's move on from that."

There was no shortage of clubs chasing his signature but the prop ultimately signed with the Tigers as the last in a string of big-name recruits for Marshall's second season in charge.

He will formally commence training in the new year, but arrived at Concord for his first official day on Saturday.

"Everyone gets along here and the training looks good, to be honest," the 25-year-old said.

It has been a full-circle moment to reunite with Marshall, who was at the Tigers when May first arrived there as a 20-year-old.

As he went on to debut at the Roosters and become a first-grade mainstay, the younger man never forgot how Marshall took him under his wing.

"He looked after me as a younger guy and I want to pay him back because he's the reason I came here, that meeting I had with him," May said.

Becoming a first-grade star has come with blowback for May, who raised eyebrows during the finals series for comments that rugby league was not his whole life.

Marshall, though, knew where May was coming from; he'd caused a stir earlier in the year for going on an overseas family holiday during a bye week.

Family was front of mind for May when he and Marshall spoke about the possibility of a move to the Tigers.

"It was just amazing to see someone put their family before footy. That's exactly what I do," he said.

"He just told me he was going to put his family first like I do. Family first for me, then footy. It was amazing to hear a coach say that, it's refreshing.

"I've never heard a coach say that before. I'm keen to play under Benji and I'm going do everything I can for this club and for Benji to pay them back."

He has also reunited with fellow recruit Jarome Luai, who played with May's brothers Tyrone and Taylan at Penrith before arriving at Wests as a potentially franchise-altering signing.

On Saturday, Luai spent an hour-and-a-half in searing heat signing autographs and taking selfies with fans at the Tigers' open training session.

Every other player had long since left with Luai out in the sun so long that staff became worried for his health and brought him a hat.

It's a far cry from the Jarome Luai that May knew growing up in Sydney's west.

"He's blossomed heaps. I remember him always being immature and just that guy that mocks everyone but he's really taken on his role of leadership," May said.

"It's surprising to see because I've known him as that mocking, young, immature dude. It's good to see him like this now."