NRL 2025: Wests Tigers recruit Terrell May takes swipe at Roosters over backflip timing

Terrell May has taken a swipe at the timing of his Roosters exit, saying he believes it was purposeful to prevent him signing with an NRL premiership heavyweight club.

Wests Tigers recruit Terrell May has taken a swipe at Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson over the timing of his last-minute release, saying be he believes it was a strategic move to prevent him signing with a premiership heavyweight.

Speaking with James Graham on The Bye Round, May opened up about his sudden exit from the club last month just seven months after signing a two-year contract extension in April.

At the time May was hot on the free market with multiple clubs chasing his signature for 2025 before he opted to stay loyal with the Roosters.

Melbourne had not yet signed ex-Tigers prop Stefano Utoikamanu, while the Panthers were preparing to confirm the release of James Fisher-Harris.

In a shock backflip by the club, he was then told in late October, in what he describes as a two-minute phone call, that the Roosters were going in a different direction and he was free to look elsewhere.

Former Roosters prop Terrell May. Picture: The Bye Round Podcast

It was reported at the time the club were concerned about his lack of commitment to the game, while Robinson has publicly stated the decision was made around the team’s style of play.

The question of timing was raised by Graham, who suggested it may have limited May’s options given it was such a late call.

“I wanted to be a one-club man, but then when you come at the market at the back end, teams have already filled their top 30 so there’s no cap space and not many clubs chasing you,” May said.

”That’s why I was a bit dirty. I was like, bro, you could have told me this ages ago when there were clubs that had money and cap space, but to do it right at the deadline, it was a bit strange.”

May has joined the Tigers. Picture: Instagram/weststigers

The Bulldogs and Dragons were also interested in him before he signed with the Tigers in mid-November on a three-year deal.

“I felt like it was a strategy for him so I don’t go to certain clubs (like) Melbourne, Penrith,” he continues.

“Penrith let go of Fish the week after I (re-signed with the Roosters)... and then they signed Papali’i. They would have been looking for a front-rower.

“I felt like that was a strategy for him to make me not go to the top clubs.

“But like I said, I’m happy at the Tigers now and I get to go start a new journey there and be that alpha leading the packs.”

The comments add further depth to the disharmony between May and the Roosters.

May learned his time at the Roosters was over while on tour with Samoa in England.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson. Picture: NRL Photos

He knew straight away he didn’t want to stay with a club that didn’t want him.

“You don’t want me? I’m not going to sit here and act like, oh yeah. Because my answer to him was I’m not going to stay then if you want to move me on,” he said.

“I knew straight away, I got on the phone to my manager and I’m like, bro, move me onto a club right now, I want to go to a club that wants me. and then all that stuff happened.

“Obviously now I’m at the Tigers, a club that really wanted me. And I can’t wait for next season.”

The prop’s comments will simmer until the Roosters and Tigers face off in Round 18 at Allianz Stadium on July 6.

May replaces Utoikamanu in the rebuilding Tigers side, and joins a handful of fresh faces at the club for 2025 including Panthers premiership stars Jarome Luai and Sunia Turuva, Royce Hunt (Sharks) and Jack Bird (Dragons).

Originally published as NRL 2025: Wests Tigers recruit Terrell May takes swipe at Roosters over backflip timing