NRL 2025: Three clubs meet with Terrell May, Eels’ Talagi coup, Panther’s premiership ink | Saint, sinner, shoosh
Sydney Roosters prop Terrell May is a man in demand after being told he was free to leave, the Eels have had a massive win, and Storm legend Craig Smith has his premiership ring again. All that and more in Saint, Sinner, Shoosh.
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Sydney Roosters prop Terrell May has held talks with St George Illawarra and Canterbury — and will meet the Wests Tigers next week — as he mulls over a change of clubs.
May was stunned when he Roosters coach Trent Robinson told him that he was free to leave, despite having two years left on the deal he only signed earlier this year.
Rival clubs have wasted no time setting up meetings with the powerful front rower as he looks to make an immediate move to a new club.
The Dragons and Bulldogs have been the fastest to react but they won’t be the only interested parties – the Tigers’ interest is only likely to be enhanced after they missed out on the signature of Brisbane lock Kobe Hetherington.
The Tigers were optimistic they would add Hetherington to their ranks but Broncos coach Michael Maguire had other ideas and he will remain in Brisbane.
May made 27 appearances for the Roosters last season, won himself a contract extension and toured England with the Samoan side.
The Bulldogs are also in the throes of finalising a contract extension for centre Bronson Xerri after his stunning return to the game.
Xerri was one of the comeback stories of the NRL season, returning from a four-year drug ban to score 10 tries in 19 games as the Bulldogs became a force again under coach Cameron Ciraldo.
He is set to sign a multi-year deal to remain at the club.
RYLES’ TALAGI COUP
Parramatta coach Jason Ryles has scored one of his biggest wins yet after convincing Australian schoolboys prop Ryda Talagi — younger brother of recently departed utility Blaize Talagi — to sign a new deal at the club.
There were genuine concerns at the Eels that Ryda would be lost to the club after his brother Blaize, a contender for rookie of the year last season after scoring 11 tries in 19 games, was lured to Penrith to play alongside Panthers star Nathan Cleary in the halves.
Ryda, who came off the bench for the Australian schoolboys against France and Papua New Guinea last month, was also in the sights of rivals.
While Blaize couldn’t resist the opportunity to play and learn off Cleary, Ryda was convinced to stay and play his part in the Ryles revolution.
Ryda is one of a number of young stars who are emerging through the Eels system.
Richard Penisini, the younger brother of centre Will, will be on a development contract this season before being elevated to the top 30 in 2026.
INSIDE THE WALTERS/REYNOLDS RADIO UPROAR
Billy Walters has clarified his decision to step down from his Triple M commitments and says teammate Adam Reynolds was covering for him, not grass-cutting him by taking his on-air spot.
Walters quit his gig on the Brisbane airways in August having been fed up with constant criticism of his dad Kevvie as coach and of the club’s players.
Former Wallabies star Greg Martin, Dan Anstey and Margaux Parker, the wife of former Broncos skipper Corey, head up Triple M’s breakfast show.
Martin hit a nerve with the Broncos following the club’s 41-16 loss to the Bulldogs in round 21, slamming Brisbane’s playing group and questioning if Walters should be axed, claiming he was too soft on his stars.
Billy stood down for the rest of the season because of their comments, leaving Reynolds to fill in.
“That was blown out of proportion,” Walters said.
“Triple M can do and say whatever they like. They want to have their opening but I just didn’t want to give my time to people who were having those opinions on the Broncos.
“They were ruthless on my mates so I decided not to do it any more. Some of their points were fair.
“I know Adam has a much bigger contract with them and he is the club captain so he can’t just brush it off. He filled in for me and I made it harder on him because he was doing the morning and afternoon shifts. He covered for me.
“I loved working for Triple M and we finished on good terms.”
SAINT
Tongan rugby league fans turned Christchurch into a sea of red last weekend and they are set to do the same at CommBank Stadium on Sunday as Tonga meet Australia in the final of the Pacific Championships. The game is a sell out. The atmosphere will be awesome.
SINNER
The Indian A cricket team has arrived on Australian shores and already we have a ball-tampering scandal. What a shock. Wherever the Indian cricket team goes, drama tends to follow. Sets it up for an interesting series though as the two giants of world cricket rip into each other.
SHOOSH
Which club is on the verge of announcing a unique major sponsorship?
SHOOSH II
Which former high-ranking NRL executive has inquired about joining the board of the Wests Tigers as an independent.
SHOOSH III
Which club is trying to medically retire a player – with just one big catch … the player wants to play on.
SPOTTED
Penrith’s Liam Henry commemorating his first NRL premiership by getting a giant Panthers tattoo on his left shoulder. The 23-year-old Blayney forward got the ink this week after heading back to the NSW central west town to spend time with family before Penrith return for pre-season training next month as they start preparations for a remarkable fifth straight title quest.
Henry isn’t the only Penrith player to go big with a permanent reminder of premiership success.
Two years ago, captain Nathan Cleary got a large Panther tattooed down the left side of his torso following the club’s grand final win over Parramatta.
SPOTTED II
Seven boss Jeff Howard and Foxtel supremo Patrick Delany sitting either side of ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys at The Big Dance. The seating arrangements were intriguing given broadcast negotiations are about to heat up.
SPOTTED III
The winter/footy season author of this column Buzz Rothfield sitting a couple of seats apart from Penrith Panthers superstar Nathan Cleary on an Emirates flight home from England … at the pointy end of course.
SPOTTED IV
Newcastle Knights legend Andrew Johns enjoying lunch with former NSW teammate Jim Dymock at plush eatery Grappa.
STORM STAR GETS PREMIERSHIP RING BACK
Melbourne premiership hero Craig Smith has his premiership ring again. Smith, whose penalty try in the dying seconds of the 1999 decider has become part of grand final folklore, will forever be grateful to Zed N Zed Jewellers boss Allan Zreik after this week replacing the precious ring that was stolen three years ago.
Smith and Zreik had been in contact about a new ring but when Zreik read a story in The Daily Telegraph in grand final week detailing the devastation Smith felt at having his prized possession stolen, he felt he had to act.
This week, Smith flew to Sydney where Zreik handed him a new ring with his number engraved on it.
“Forever grateful,” Smith said.
“It is such an amazing gift from Allan. I can never repay him but at least I have something for my kids. I used to wear it all the time and proudly so, because I bloody earned it.
“To be able to get it back and be able to wear it again, it has been a really big hole in who I am because you always struggle a bit after football.
“That is one time I can say I put my hand up and did something. It was an emotional day. All my friends and family are really grateful.
“It is an amazing, beautiful bit of jewellery. It was just a big chunk of me gone.”
Zreik, who designed and made the NRL grand final rings for more than a decade, added: “We spoke two months ago. When I read the story (in The Daily Telegraph) I thought I better do something for Craig.
“It was just the pleasure of doing it. I just thought it was about time we did something.”
The ring didn’t just bring a smile to Smith’s face. His children Bella and Jack would often wear the ring. They were overjoyed when they heard it was being replaced.
“I would always put the ring on,” Smith said.
“All the reunions, every time I came to a Storm game. If ever I am having a flat day or not in a good head space, I will put it back on and it reminds me of the day I did something pretty cool.”
SMITH VOWS TO STAND BY YOUNG STAR
Cameron Smith has offered to do whatever he can to support Jeff Guan as the young golfing prodigy fights to overcome an eye injury that threatens his career.
Guan, awarded the Cameron Smith scholarship last year, is locked in the fight of his life as he recovers from serious eye surgery, having been hit by a stray ball while playing in Sydney.
“It’s not good,” Smith said.
“I mean, especially for a young talented golfer like himself, it’s definitely a big setback, you know? But he’s a really strong kid and he’s a hard worker, and not only myself but I think the whole golfing world is around him and wanting (him) to succeed and do well.
“We’ll do whatever we can to support him. But terrible news – you wouldn’t wish that on anyone, especially a good, young, talented golfer like that. It’s definitely on our kind of watch list.
“It’s terrible.”
Guan made his professional debut on the US PGA Tour earlier this year and was earmarked for a long career after signing with the same management company as Masters champion Jon Rahm.
Guan won’t know the outlook forces recovery at least six months after undergoing surgery to save the eyeball. Smith has his fingers and toes crossed that a young man he helped with a scholarship can find his way back.
“He’s a great golfer,” Smith said.
“He actually just had his first start in the US a few weeks prior to that (incident). He’s definitely one of those guys to me that seemed like his head was in the right spot and he was not only gifted but a very hard worker.
“They are some qualities you want to see in young guys. I’m hopeful that he will get back to the game and do well.”
CLAY JOINS EXODUS
The exodus of Australian track and field athletes to train overseas continues. The latest to head to America is hurdler Liz Clay, who is linking with Atlis coach Andreas Behm in Arizona. Clay has represented Australia at the last two Olympics.
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CEO … WITH DINO MEZZATESTA
First job? Qantas Airways – Reservations Sales, 1986 to 1988, ended up with Qantas until 2001 in various roles. Reservations Department was the centre of the airline. It was 24 hours seven days a week – all bookings, all changes, everything went to the call centres. I still remember you were measured on how many sales you made and how many calls you took per hour. My first boss there was John Borghetti, crazy to think the only way you could make a booking, change a booking was to call reservations or physically go into a travel centre.
Greatest personal sporting achievement? Making the Sutherland Sharks Soccer Reps team
Sporting team you supported as a kid? Juventus F.C. the captain was Dino Zoff who was also the Italian National team goalkeeper. Still love the bianconeri.
Who was your sporting hero? Kenny Dalglish, one of the most prolific goal scorers in his time, together with Juventus as a very young kid. I adopted Liverpool as my team and largely because of Dalglish, add into the mix You Will Never Walk Alone, which still stands as one of the most successful and iconic sporting anthems across the globe attached to a club.
What did you want to be when you were younger? Lawyer, had the best experience as a young teenager doing 2 weeks work placement with the Country’s leading criminal lawyer. He managed to talk me out of practising law as a career, and he is still a great friend today some 40 years later
Most famous person in your phone? Sorry I can’t reveal my contacts – does that sound familiar?
What’s at the top of your 2025 wish list? Do the double NRL and NRLW premierships
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