Saint, Sinner, Shoosh: Terrell May to seek explanation for Origin snub, rivals sign Hindmarsh junior
Terrell May’s theory on his NSW Origin snubbing, Nathan Hindmarsh’s response to son joining western Sydney rivals, Susie Pearl dishes dirt on Todd Carney and more in Saint, Sinner, Shoosh.
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Terrell May says he always knew he would be snubbed for State of Origin, no matter how well he played.
He thinks it’s because of the personal and reputational damage from his sacking at the Roosters and his family surname; in that his brothers Tyrone and Talyn have had serious off-field issues.
It’s why he plans to ring NSW coach Laurie Daley after Origin I. Your columnist gave May Daley’s phone number so he can call next week.
“He’s too busy right now getting the team ready,” May said.
“It’s not about me.
“I’d love to speak to Laurie at some stage to get his opinion on what I need to work on to become part of the squad. I’ll ring him.”
Statistics show how unlucky the Tigers prop was to miss out.
He has more minutes, more offloads, more possessions, more runs and more tackles than any other front-rower in the NSW Blues team.
And he is second only to Payne Haas for most metres and tackle busts.
“It’s painful to miss out,” he said.
“But, to be honest, I knew I wasn’t going to make it before the season even started. I knew no matter how well I played last Sunday, I wouldn’t get picked.
“I said to my family and friends, ‘No matter how good I play, I can guarantee I won’t make it’.
“I feel like I’ve got to work extra hard because of my last name. Some people don’t like my personality or my name.
“Having to leave the Roosters, too, hurt my image. No one knows what really happened. I still don’t understand why.
“My personality is who I am. I don’t want to be fake.”
May, 26, has played only 64 NRL games. He has such a long career ahead of him.
“I’m not sure people realise this is only my third year of NRL and my first year as a starting front-rower. I feel like I’m going to keep improving and peak later than most front-rowers because I started so late,” he said.
He credits coach Benji Marshall for his form this year as the leader of the Wests Tigers pack.
“Benji’s a legend and the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” he said.
“On and off the field he lets me express myself, which I love.
“He called the other day just to check in and make sure I’m having a good rest because we’ve got the bye. I love playing for him.”
SAINT
NSW State of Origin prop Mitch Barnett should be so proud of his home club — the Wingham Tigers. The town has been smashed by floods like so many areas of NSW. The footy players have been absolutely magnificent, working in teams and knocking on doors over several days to offer assistance to stricken locals. These guys are true heroes of their community and the game of rugby league.
SINNER
Shire restaurateur and radio host Mark Levy has done a fine job as Ray Hadley’s replacement on 2GB mornings. However, his description of the midweek Reece Walsh story as a media beat-up, is proof Levy is still an L-Plater when it comes to journalism and news judgement. No one ever suggested this was a scandal, but more A-grade stupidity. Walsh himself admitted the video of him punching a mate in the head and knocking him to the ground was a bad look. So did the Broncos.
SHOOSH
A footballer posted a photo on social media last week that appeared to show a white line of some type of substance on a table, setting off alarm bells. The integrity unit made inquiries and it turned out it was nothing to worry about. The player and his manager were able to prove a painter had been working on the house that day and had left several drops of Dulux on the table.
SHOOSH
Which veteran league hack had his Facebook account shut down for 24 hours last week as a penalty for posting video footage from an NRL game. The rule — rarely enforced — is there to protect the TV broadcast partners who also own the digital rights.
SHOOSH
Kia has extended its sponsorship of the Kangaroos for another three years. The car company will be on the front of the jersey for the Kangaroo tour in October, the 2026 World Cup and Pacific Nations tournament in 2027.
SHOOSH
James Johnson may have quit as boss of Australian soccer but his parting gift is a major sponsor to replace Subway. We’re hearing the soon-to-be-announced sponsorship deal is the richest in soccer history and will see the company name on both the Matildas and Socceroos’ jerseys for the next five years. Meanwhile, Johnson won’t be banging on the door of Centrelink anytime soon. He has just picked up a senior role in soccer administration in Canada.
SPOTTED
Get in now if you’re planning a trip to Perth for State of Origin II at Optus Stadium on June 18. The NRL says only 5000 tickets are left at the 60,000-seat stadium. It is an encouraging sign as interest builds around the Perth Bears entering the competition in 2027.
SPOTTED
The NRL has furiously denied suggestions they fudged the crowd numbers for the season-opener at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The stadium management released a crowd figure of 38,107 last week but the NRL posted 45,209 on the day of the event. Turns out the discrepancy is easy to explain – the stadium didn’t allow for corporate sales and counted only general admission.
BUSTIN’ LOOSE
The teenage son of Parramatta legend Nathan Hindmarsh has been snapped up by arch rivals the Penrith Panthers, beating the Eels to the punch.
Buster Hindmarsh, 17, is a rangy second-rower — much leaner than his dad — who has signed for two years with the Panthers.
“Penrith gave us an invitation to go and check out their facilities and they were really impressive,” Nathan said.
“The Bulldogs did the same thing. The Dogs were very close, too. They’ve got a great set up.
“All Parramatta did was send us an offer in an email and didn’t show the same interest. It was a bit disappointing.
“He was keen on the Bears too, where he played SG Ball this year, but we decided the Panthers were the best option at this stage of his career.
“They’ve got such a great record bringing kids through and looking after them so professionally.”
It will be upsetting for Eels fans in that Nathan Hindmarsh is such a club legend.
The family has a rich history at Parramatta where Nathan played 330 NRL games for the club and his brother Ian played 164 matches.
“It was a bit weird when he came home the other day in the full Penrith kit,” Hindmarsh said.
“But we’ll get used to it.
“He loves the game and he’s very happy to get the opportunity with the Panthers.
“This is just the start. He knows he’s still got a lot of hard work ahead if he’s to play NRL.”
Penrith CEO Matt Cameron has high hopes for the youngster.
“He’s a beautiful young kid,” Cameron said.
“Our pathways manager Lee Hopkins has been tracking him for a little while.
“We’re really pleased he’s chosen to come here.
“We’ll get him into the building and get him started and see how he goes.”
Another Eels legend, former skipper Nathan Cayless, has a son also playing at a rival club.
Eddie Cayless played in the Roosters’ grand final winning SG Ball team this year.
Both Cayless’ and Hindmarsh’s sons started in Parramatta juniors but left for rival clubs to get better opportunities.
Eels CEO Jim Sarantinos has defended the club’s junior league position.
“The success of our pathways was evident by three of our four teams making grand finals this year,” Sarantinos said.
“The SG Ball team was undefeated until losing the grand final.
“It’s an area we’ve put a lot of work into and we’re proud of it. Buster Hindmarsh was in our juniors but moved to Norths. We wish him well.”
ORIGIN’S NRL IMPACT
Rugby league can be a tough watch during Origin with 34 of the NRL’s best players away on representative duty.
It explains why on Thursday night the AFL on Channel 7 (683,000) clearly beat the NRL on Channel 9 (627,000).
Sadly, we have another six weeks to put up with it. One day Peter V’landys and Andrew Abdo will listen to the fans and understand how badly Origin affects the competition.
There is such an easy and fair solution. Stop the comp for three weeks, play Origin, then get back to the premiership.
WILLIE-NILLY MISS
If the NRL was doing proper due diligence around the Perth Bears coaching job, they would have at least interviewed Hull Kingston Rovers coach Willie Peters.
Peters’ team is four points ahead on top of the UK Super League and flogged Sam Burgess’ Warrington 31-12 on Saturday.
Peters has been an assistant coach at Newcastle, Manly and Souths. He is going to be an outstanding NRL head coach.
REED TO BE HOOKED
The rumour will not go away that hooker Reed Mahoney is facing the chop at Canterbury because of his lack of discipline. That was again so evident on Thursday night in the NRL ladder leaders’ big loss against the Dolphins.
We’re hearing coach Cameron Ciraldo will use utility star Bailey Hayward at hooker when he has all his players available after State of Origin.
In a competition as tight as this year, one stupid penalty can mean the difference between winning and losing in the big games.
MAGNUSSEN’S RISK
Former swimming champion James Magnussen may have put his media career at SEN at risk.
Magnussen’s been a bizarre performance-enhancing drug program and publicity blitz in preparation for the Enhanced Games in Las Vegas.
Some see it as a shocking example to be setting young athletes.
So we asked SEN chief executive Craig Hutchison how he felt about it. He declined to comment.
Magnussen has no contract at SEN but worked regularly last year as a casual.
THROWING BOMBS WITH TERENCE CRAWFORD
It takes a lot to drag old mate Peter ‘Bomber’ Badel away from his beloved Maroons two days before State of Origin I.
But the Courier Mail’s chief league writer is sneaking out of Camp Maroon to host an evening with one of the biggest sporting superstars on the planet - US boxing sensation Terence Crawford.
In a massive coup for Australian sport, Crawford will emulate NFL legend Tom Brady with a whirlwind visit Down Under, starting with a speaking gig with Badel on the Gold Coast on Monday night.
Unbeaten in 41 fights, the four-division world champion will also visit Melbourne (May 28) and Sydney (May 29), where ‘Bud’ will catch up for a casual game of basketball with Anthony Mundine and Sonny Bill Williams.
Crawford will spend five days in Australia before flying home and heading straight into camp for his $200 million blockbuster fight against Mexican legend Canelo Alvarez in September.
“This is huge,” said former Jeff Fenech-trained Aussie boxer Grant ‘Tas’ Brown, who organised the trip as a personal friend of Crawford’s.
“It’s a massive moment for Australian sporting fans to have Terence Crawford coming to our country.
“This is one of the biggest sporting stars on the planet coming to our doorstep.”
BIG SPORTS BREAKFAST
Catch you at 9.40am on the weekend Big Sports Breakfast with hosts Ray Thomas and Dean Bulldog Ritchie to discuss the State of Origin build-up among other rugby league issues.
BETTER HALF with Susie Pearl, wife of former Canberra, Sydney Roosters, Cronulla star Todd Carney
Susie, it’s not every day a former reality TV star ties the knot with one of the NRL’s most recognisable faces. Did you ever think this would be your life?
No, definitely not. But, in saying that I feel like if you told one of my friends or family, they would say, ‘If it was going to happen to anyone, it would be Susie’, because I always seem to be that kind of person.
So, how did it all happen?
Many think we met because I was on Married At First Sight and Todd had an NRL profile — which wasn’t the case at all. I filmed MAFs the year earlier in October and it wasn’t known that I was on it. Todd slid into my DMs, then we met and I quite liked him, so I had to confess I was going to be on the show the next month.
Did you and Todd ever watch the show together?
No, never! I couldn’t think of anything worse. We definitely didn’t tune in once it was aired.
So it must have been all secretive to start your relationship?
Correct, that was the whole idea. But of course the paparazzi and what have you snapped some pictures of us, and people that couldn’t take the show on face value were all up in arms because I was cheating on my at-the-time husband, with NRL bad boy Todd Carney!
You mentioned NRL bad boy, did you know of Todd beforehand?
No, the only thing I knew was my partner’s brother at the time, had also done the bubbler. And I knew it was the same thing as the guy from football. Then when I realised who Todd was, it was the only two things I linked together.
When you realised, was it a bit of a turn off?
Well I liked him instantly so no, and who doesn’t do that crap. My brother-in-law at the time had done it and I wasn’t fazed by it.
Todd is infamous for some of his antics, what’s he like behind closed doors?
Todd, really in my opinion, is someone who is quite introverted. He is very well spoken and holds himself so well, especially when they get a professional situation, or talking football or work. But the second he has to perform socially, he’s obviously had his trouble with alcoholism and can be uneasy and introverted. I’m lucky because I get to see all the sides of him, and I believe he’s the best human in the world.
You mentioned Todd’s struggle with alcoholism, what toll has that had?
We haven’t had a smooth go at all. His alcoholism ultimately led to us separating for a year. Todd ended up taking himself to rehab, and if it wasn’t for him admitting himself, we wouldn’t be here today.
To see Todd get help not only for himself, but for the sake of your relationship must be something you’re proud of?
Yes, I am. I remember going to a therapist with him, and he said, ‘I’m worried if I go through all of this and don’t want to be with you at the end of it’. I just told him, ‘I don’t care if you don’t want to be with me, I just want you to be better’.
Did you think during that separation it was done and there would be no going back?
We were done. We had a house together which we sold. We bought our own homes, everything was separated. I was not going back and I didn’t think Todd was going to get the help he needed. I closed the book on that and moved on.
Well you obviously got over that. Married at the start of the year, what was that like? Any doubts?
I don’t have a worry in the world. That man loves me and I love him, we are committed to one another and have been through so much that we essentially have grown and matured together that we are pretty much unbreakable.
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