Roosters show $950k prop Terrell May the door in shock move

The Sydney Roosters have made a massive call to move on an international forward despite only signing him to an extension early this year.

The Sydney Roosters have reportedly told rising star prop Terrell May that he’s free to find another club despite being contracted until the end of the 2026 season.

Despite signing a contract extension in early 2024 for an additional two-year deal worth a reported $950,000, the Roosters have deemed the hulking forward surplus to their needs going forward.

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The 25-year-old May hasn’t even started the extension part of his deal but the Sydney Morning Herald has reported sources with knowledge of the situation revealed said “the Roosters feel May doesn’t fit the direction in which the club is heading”.

May, who is the brother of controversial former NRL players Tyrone, 28, and Taylan, 23, is currently representing Samoa in a two-Test series against England in the UK.

But the report states that May not return to Roosters pre-season training, having told his Samoan teammates he could be leaving the club.

There are several players on the hunt for props including the Tigers, Dragons and Bulldogs.

Terrell May had a break out season. Photo: NRL PHOTOS

The Bulldogs were previously attempting to reunite all three brothers but pulled their offer after an issue with May’s management.

Taylan May was a former Penrith Panthers star but quit the club as he awaited a court date in March 2025 over allegations he assaulted his wife and later contravened an AVO, allegations he has pleaded not guilty to and reportedly intends to fight in court.

The Panthers had tried to sack May but lost a Federal Court battle with the club reportedly negotiating a confidential settlement to part ways.

Tyrone May’s contract was torn up after a series of scandals, including pleading guilty to four counts of intentionally recording an intimate image without consent in November 2019.

However, he was only fired after the Panthers’ 2021 premiership victory after a social media post that appeared to allude to the scandal.

Tyrone now plays for the Hull Kingston Rovers in the UK’s Super League.

Terrell was also embroiled in some off-field controversies this season, getting slammed for a social media post after teammate Joseph Sua’ali’i became just the sixth — and easily the fastest — send off in State of Origin history after laying out Broncos fullback Reece Walsh in a brutal hit just seven minutes into the opening match of the State of Origin series.

While Sua’ali’i apologised, May responded “HIS [sic] DEAD”, which plenty of fans hit back at.

Terrell May has been told he can negotiate with other clubs. Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

In September, May admitted to the SMH he had given footy away twice earlier in his career — at 18 and 20 — because “I just didn’t want to play any more.

“I get like that throughout the year as well,” May added.

“Sometimes I just get ‘I don’t wanna be there and don’t wanna play’.

“It’s a weird feeling. I don’t think many people experience it where one week they love the game and go on the TV screens and the next week they don’t want to be there at all.”

But May had a brilliant season in 2024, with Phil Gould even declaring him a smokey for the Blues back in March.

In 27 appearances, 19 of which he came off the bench, May scored six tries, ran for 2994m at an average of 110m per game which included 64 tackle breaks and 1087 post-contact metres — the fourth most in the Roosters’ team.

On top of that, he had 40 offloads and averaged 27 tackles per game.