Wayne Bennett confirms interest in former Panthers star Taylan May

Taylan May could soon be back in the NRL, with South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett confirming the club is interested in bringing the former Penrith star to Redfern.

South Sydney supercoach Wayne Bennett has confirmed his interest in Taylan May as the troubled former Panthers star edges closer to an NRL return.

This masthead can reveal May has interest from three clubs, including an English Super League outfit, as the controversial three-quarter looks to resurrect his rugby league career.

The Rabbitohs have emerged as a possible destination for May, with Bennett revealing he is open to throwing the 23-year-old winger or centre a lifeline for a Redfern revival.

The Samoan Test star toured South Sydney’s facilities earlier this week.

And while no deal has been signed at this stage, Bennett says he is in the process of exploring a second chance for May.

“Yes, we’re talking to his management,” Bennett said.

“We wouldn’t be talking to his management if there wasn’t some interest, but we’re just in the stage of talking to him at the moment.

“We’re trying to work things out at the moment.

Taylan May was stood down after he was arrested in relation to an alleged domestic violence incident. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

So we’ll know more next week after we tick a few boxes.”

May was sacked by the Panthers last year following a string of off-field incidents which prompted the four-time premiers to sever ties with the promising outside back.

At the time, May was fighting domestic violence charges and was subject to the NRL’s no-fault stand-down policy, but those charges were dropped in March.

That has opened the door for the prospect of a comeback pending any May deal being rubber-stamped by the NRL’s integrity unit.

May’s manager Ahmad Merhi confirmed several clubs have expressed interest and is confident the tryscoring three-quarter will be approved to play again by the NRL.

“Souths are an option,” Merhi said.

“He has three clubs looking at him and Souths are one of those options.

“Taylan definitely wants to play again.

May had a breakout 2022 season. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

“He is not subject to any NRL stand-down at the moment and there’s nothing pending on him, so we’ll leave it with the NRL.

“If and when they get a registered contract they can make a decision from there (on whether May returns to the NRL).”

May made his NRL debut for Penrith in 2021 and has scored 17 tries from 30 games, headlined by a breakout 2022 campaign that saw him cross 16 times from 21 appearances.

Bennett is no stranger to saving and rebuilding careers – the NRL Hall-of-Fame coach lured NSW superstar Latrell Mitchell to South Sydney in 2020 after his contract bust-up with the Roosters.

Bennett tried to sign former Warriors prop Russell Packer, who served time in jail, to the Broncos in 2015 and a year later, he issued a lifeline to Matt Lodge at Brisbane following his New York rampage.

Wayne Bennett took in Matt Lodge at the Broncos. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

May has also been linked with the Wests Tigers in a move that could see him reunite with brother Terrell, who joined the joint venture club this season from the Roosters.

May told Channel 9 he is reformed individual after spending time in a psychiatric ward as he battled suicidal thoughts.

“I feel like I came out of it totally different,” he said.

“I got suicidal and I think that’s fair to say. It’s not a sob story, it’s how I felt.

“It was probably the best thing that could have happened for me, it opened my eyes up to a lot of things – a day in a psych ward felt like a week.

“My name was unknown in the psych ward and I was happy to come out and be unknown. I just didn’t like the person that Taylan was.

“My mindset has changed, my beliefs have changed and I’m a whole different person now.”

Originally published as Wayne Bennett confirms interest in former Panthers star Taylan May