Taylan May
Taylan May (born 19 August 2001) is a professional rugby league footballer of Samoan descent who plays as a centre or winger for the Wests Tigers in the National Rugby League (NRL).[1][2] An Australia-born athlete from Blacktown, New South Wales, May debuted in the NRL with the Penrith Panthers in 2021 and has earned international caps for Samoa, including in the Rugby League World Cup.[3][2] May's on-field contributions include notable try-scoring performances, leveraging his speed and power as an outside back, though his career statistics reflect a journeyman trajectory with limited games at the top level.[2] Off the field, he has encountered significant legal and disciplinary issues, including a 2022 conviction for common assault after punching a teenage fan during post-grand final celebrations, for which a magistrate described the act as cowardly.[4] In 2024, May was arrested and charged with domestic violence offenses, including assault and stalking his wife, leading to his indefinite stand-down by the NRL and a show-cause notice from the Panthers for multiple breaches of club standards; the charges were withdrawn by police in March 2025.[5][6][7] These controversies culminated in May's mutual release from the Panthers in July 2024 following a confidential settlement, after which he joined the Wests Tigers midway through the 2025 season on a train-and-trial deal, later rejecting a three-year, $1.5 million extension in pursuit of a shorter, higher-value contract.[8][1][9] May was sidelined for the 2025 Pacific Championships due to injury, underscoring ongoing challenges in maintaining consistent availability.[10]Early Life and Background
Family and Upbringing
Taylan May was born on 19 April 2001 in Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia.[11] He grew up in the suburb of Tregear, near Mount Druitt in Sydney's western suburbs, an area characterized by high levels of poverty, violence, and crime.[12] [13] May hails from a family of Samoan descent with a strong rugby league tradition; his brothers, Tyrone and Terrell May, are also professional players in the National Rugby League (NRL).[14] The siblings were immersed in the sport from a young age, with their father instilling discipline through backyard training sessions focused on running, passing, and tackling, regardless of weather conditions.[15] This rigorous, tough-love approach emphasized resilience and skill development, preparing the brothers for competitive pathways.[15] The family's upbringing in Tregear involved navigating socioeconomic challenges, including limited resources and exposure to local hardships, which May later referenced in personal reflections, such as a tattoo symbolizing "pain" from his early experiences.[16] Despite these difficulties, the emphasis on family unity and rugby provided a foundation for May's entry into junior development programs, fostering his fearless playing style noted from childhood.[17]Junior and Development Career
May commenced his rugby league journey in the junior ranks with the Minchinbury Jets, competing in the Penrith District Junior Rugby League. Born on 19 August 2001 in Sydney, New South Wales, he developed his skills in Western Sydney's competitive local scene, where his family background emphasized the sport.[11][18] In 2018, at age 16, May earned recognition as the Minchinbury Jets' under-17s player of the year, highlighting his early promise as a speedy outside back capable of finishing plays effectively.[19] He attended Patrician Brothers' College Blacktown during this period, further immersing himself in rugby league environments.[18] Transitioning into structured development pathways, May signed with the Penrith Panthers' system, bypassing extensive under-19 competitions like SG Ball or Jersey Flegg in documented records. Instead, he debuted in the club's New South Wales Cup reserve-grade team on 13 March 2021, facing the South Sydney Rabbitohs in round 1 of that season.[20] This appearance marked his entry into semi-professional competition, where he played additional matches that year prior to elevation to the NRL squad.[21] His rapid progression reflected the Panthers' focus on local juniors with proven district-level talent, though specific statistics from Cup games remain limited in public records.Professional Club Career
Penrith Panthers Tenure (2021–2024)
May made his National Rugby League (NRL) debut for the Penrith Panthers in round 21 of the 2021 season against the Sydney Roosters.[2] He appeared in just one match that year, contributing to the team's strong regular season performance, though he did not feature in the playoffs as Penrith secured the premiership.[2] In 2022, May emerged as a breakout performer, playing 21 NRL games primarily on the wing.[2] He scored 16 tries, leading the Panthers in try-scoring that season, and recorded notable metrics including 18 line breaks, 98 tackle breaks, and 3,259 running metres at an average of 155 per game.[22] His efforts earned him the club's Ben Alexander Rookie of the Year award and the OAK Plus Try of the Year for a standout score in round 6 against the Brisbane Broncos via a cross-field kick from Nathan Cleary.[22] May featured in one finals match as part of Penrith's premiership-winning campaign, helping secure the grand final victory over Parramatta.[2] May did not play any NRL games for Penrith in 2023, sidelined by injury throughout the season.[23] He returned in 2024, starting with an appearance in the World Club Challenge on 24 February, where Penrith lost 38–4 to Wigan Warriors.[2] May played eight premiership matches that year, scoring one try, before the club mutually terminated his contract in July.[2] Over his tenure from 2021 to 2024, he accumulated 30 appearances, 17 tries, and 68 points for the Panthers.[2]Wests Tigers Era (2025–Present)
Taylan May joined the Wests Tigers on a train-and-trial contract on June 10, 2025, for the remainder of the season, providing additional depth to the club's outside backs following his release from the Penrith Panthers.[24] The agreement allowed May to resume competitive play after an extended period sidelined due to prior legal and personal matters, with the club emphasizing his potential to contribute finishing power in attack.[1] May made his club debut for the Tigers in Round 20 on July 20, 2025, against the Gold Coast Titans at Leichhardt Oval, where he scored one try and provided two try assists in a 21-20 victory.[25] His performance demonstrated no immediate signs of rust, aligning with the Tigers' strategy under coach Benji Marshall to integrate experienced centres capable of breaking defensive lines.[26] On September 9, 2025, May signed a two-year contract extension with the Tigers, securing his position until the end of the 2027 NRL season after initially rejecting a longer-term offer reportedly worth $1.5 million over three years.[27] [28] The deal, valued at approximately $1.25 million, reflected the club's commitment to retaining his attacking prowess despite his off-field history, with May expressing intent to focus on consistent on-field contributions.[29] Later in October 2025, May was ruled out of Samoa's Pacific Championships campaign due to a required six-week rehabilitation period, prioritizing his preparation for the 2026 pre-season.[10]International Career
Samoa National Team Appearances
Taylan May debuted for the Samoa national rugby league team (Toa Samoa) on 25 June 2022, scoring two tries in a 42–12 victory over the Cook Islands during an international series match.[21] He primarily played as a winger (#2) throughout his international career to date.[2] May featured prominently in the 2022 Rugby League World Cup, where Samoa achieved their best-ever finish by reaching the final.[2] In the group stage match against France on 30 October 2022, he scored a hat-trick of tries plus a fourth in a dominant 62–4 win, marking a standout debut in the tournament.[21] [30] Samoa advanced through the knockout stages with May starting on the wing: a narrow 20–18 quarter-final victory over Tonga on 6 November, a 27–26 semi-final upset against England on 12 November, and a 10–30 final loss to Australia on 19 November.[21] Across these four World Cup appearances, he contributed four tries.[2]| Date | Opponent | Competition | Result | Position | Tries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 June 2022 | Cook Islands | International Test | W 42–12 | Wing (#2) | 2 |
| 30 October 2022 | France | Rugby League World Cup (Group Stage) | W 62–4 | Wing (#2) | 4 |
| 6 November 2022 | Tonga | Rugby League World Cup (Quarter-final) | W 20–18 | Wing (#2) | 0 |
| 12 November 2022 | England | Rugby League World Cup (Semi-final) | W 27–26 | Wing (#2) | 0 |
| 19 November 2022 | Australia | Rugby League World Cup (Final) | L 10–30 | Wing (#2) | 0 |