By Michael Chammas, Adrian Proszenko and Dan Walsh
The Wests Tigers have agreed to terms on a three-year deal with prop forward Terrell May after he was granted an immediate release from the Sydney Roosters.
The Tigers have edged out St George Illawarra for May’s services on a lucrative deal that will see him remain at the joint venture club until at least the end of 2027.
May informed St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan of his decision on Monday morning.
The news is a significant boost for the Tigers, who have been looking for a front-rower for the past few months.
They’ve held conversations with both Canberra’s Corey Horsburgh and Brisbane’s Kobe Hetherington but were unable to land a deal.
Part of the appeal of linking with the Tigers was reuniting with Samoan teammates Jarome Luai and Sunia Turuva.
Terrell May was a surprise addition to the 2025 player market.Credit: NRL Imagery
May stands to earn around $2 million across the three-year Tigers deal, a significant upgrade on his two-year, $950,000 Roosters contract that was agreed to in April.
The Tricolours move to shift May, just six months after inking that extension, caught the NRL by surprise given the 25-year-old was the only player to feature in all 27 games for the club and enjoyed a breakout season.
Conjecture around May’s off-field fit at the Roosters followed, though coach Trent Robinson insisted last week that re-aligning a forward-heavy roster and prioritising the club’s emerging props was the catalyst for his release.
May met with Tigers coach Benji Marshall last week after returning from Samoa’s tour of England, while the Bulldogs also registered preliminary interest in signing him for 2025.
Talks around Ben Hunt’s future will ramp up this week.Credit: Getty
The Roosters expressed interest in Ben Hunt last week given the salary cap space freed up by May’s exit, while the ex-Dragons skipper has already met with Brisbane and the Dolphins.
The Broncos are due to meet with Hunt’s management again this week as the club looks to ramp up talks with their one-time halfback.
Brisbane are unlikely to be able to compete with the Roosters or Dolphins in a bidding war, especially given the latter have more than $1 million in spare salary cap space for 2025.
Hunt, who will be 35 by the start of next season, is being eyed as cover for five-eighth Ezra Mam as he awaits a December 16 court date after he was formally charged with drug driving and driving without a licence.
Mam is facing a lengthy NRL suspension to start next season, prompting Brisbane’s interest in Hunt to play in the halves alongside veteran Adam Reynolds before potentially sharing the hooking duties with Billy Walters.
Similar playmaking depth issues at the Roosters - where star half Sam Walker and hooker Brandon Smith are both sidelined until mid-2025 by knee injuries - makes Hunt an attractive recruit as well.
Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.