Penrith’s Taylan May cleared over controversial Reece Walsh hit, signs new Panthers contract

Fresh from being cleared over a controversial hit on Broncos star Reece Walsh, Panthers gun Taylan May has more reason to celebrate.

Taylan May was put on report and penalised for foul play, but not sin-binned, over his role in an 'accidental' head clash with Reece Walsh. Picture: NRL Imagery

Fresh from being cleared by the match review committee, Penrith gun centre Taylan May has inked a contract extension to remain at the Panthers for at least two more seasons.

May has agreed to a new deal worth about $1 million for the two seasons after meeting with Penrith officials earlier in the week.

He had hoped to secure a contract with his brother Terrell but in the short-term that is now unlikely with Terrell May in discussions about remaining at the Roosters.

Taylan was off-contract at the end of season but has impressed since making his start at centre in round one. He missed the entirety of last season with a knee injury.

Taylan May has signed a new deal with the Panthers. Picture: NRL Photos

Earlier Friday, May escaped a charge for his tackle which left Broncos superstar Reece Walsh with a facial fracture.

May was placed on report for the shot early in the first half of Penrith’s win over Brisbane on Thursday night, but has avoided punishment from the match review committee.

Prop Matt Eisenhuth was the only Penrith player charged but he has just been fined.

Taylan May was put on report and penalised for foul play, but not sin-binned, over his role in an 'accidental' head clash with Reece Walsh. Picture: NRL Imagery

MATCH REPORT: CLEARY CLASS SINKS BRONCOS AGAIN

Nathan Cleary brought his grand final form to Penrith Park on Thursday night as he engineered another masterclass against the Broncos.

Cleary’s performance in the 34-12 win will ensure Broncos players continue to have nightmares about him.

Young halfbacks should naturally be studying Cleary but not what he’s doing now.

Go back to his early years – when he wasn’t setting up tries left, right and centre.

Cleary has engineered the perfect halfback’s career in terms of his development and timeline.

He had very few try assists for a halfback in his first few seasons but concentrated on getting his defence and kicking game in order.

He didn’t try to be flashy and risk letting his team down as an inexperienced half.

Nathan Cleary has once again given the Broncos nightmares, with another masterclass performance in the grand final rematch. Picture: Getty Images

Since the 2020 grand final loss his ball playing has gone to a new level each season.

It was all part of Cleary’s long-term plan.

“I don’t think ball playing is something that comes naturally to me,” he said.

“It’s something I’ve had to work hard at and it’s built over time and it was nice to make some right decisions tonight.

“It’s just a constant journey.”

It was evident in the 14th minute last night when he threw a lovely floating cut-out ball to send Sunia Turuva over for the opening try.

Cleary then set up two tries for Izack Tago and the second one was done with deft touch and patience as he ran into the defensive line.

“It was fun,” Cleary said.

PUNISHED ACCIDENTS

It’s never good to borrow rules or interpretations from rugby union but rugby league is punishing players for accidental head clashes.

In rugby, players are getting sent off for head clashes and Taylan May was put on report for the one that forced Broncos gun Reece Walsh off the field in the third minute.

It was a pure accident but referee Gerard Sutton still felt the need to penalise the Penrith centre.

“He’s got a duty of care to bend and make a tackle and he doesn’t bend,” Sutton said.

Penrith coach Ivan Cleary said he wasn’t worried about May being on report.

“It just thought it was an accident,” he said.

“I actually thought he was trying to pull out of the tackle. If he had have bent down, which the bunker was suggesting he should have, he would’ve hit him in the head with his shoulder which is not what we want.

“Reece Walsh moves pretty fast and these things happen.”

Walsh passed his HIA but he couldn’t see out of his eye due to swelling and the initial reports from Broncos officials was that there was no structural damage but he’ll have more tests post-game.

“He’s not too good in there. He’s having trouble seeing with that big gash,” coach Kevin Walters said.

“He tried to get back on but he just wasn’t right to go so I pulled him from the game.”

With Adam Reynolds and Payne Haas already not playing, the Walsh injury ended Brisbane’s hopes before the fifth minute.

Walters said his team were a little rattled when their influential playmaker went off.

“We faced a bit of adversity there early and we didn’t handle it as well as we should have,” he said.

“I thought our start was really good until we had to make those adjustments and as a team we didn’t handle that really well and we started trying to do things as individuals and that was never going to work.

“As a group, we hadn’t had that happen to us before in a game but we have now and we’ll be better next time when it does happen.

“Me as a coach, I’ve got to pick the right people to be on our bench so we have cover if something happens so I take a bit of blame as coach.”

MIGHTY MOSES

Since the 2022 grand final Moses Leota has built a reputation as a big game player.

His 2023 grand final was enormous and he just has a knack of turning up the dial when needed.

Ivan Cleary wasn’t surprised.

“It’s hard to find a game where he hasn’t had a notch turned up,” Cleary said.

Without his more fancied front row partner James Fisher-Harris last night he stepped up again to lead the Penrith pack and run riot over the Broncos forwards.

He had 10 hit ups for nearly 100m in his first stint and surely critics should be ranking as the equal of Golden Boot winner Fisher-Harris.

“Those two boys definitely play better when they’re playing together so it was important for him to do well tonight,” Cleary said.

LUAI’S TALK

Jarome Luai was at his niggling best against the Broncos and no doubt was reminding them who’s premiers.

There were several little incidents where playing came together for a push and shove but Nathan Cleary said there wasn’t much in them.

“I’m not on Jarome’s side (of the field) but I dare say he was sledging,” Cleary said.

“He does it to us at training so hopefully he brings it to the game and there’s feeling in all those big games so it makes it a bit more intense.”

Originally published as Penrith’s Taylan May cleared over controversial Reece Walsh hit, signs new Panthers contract