Terrell May’s $2m Wests Tigers lifeline after shock Roosters axing

Terrell May has wasted no time in finding a new club after the Sydney Roosters prop was shown the door by the NRL glamour club.

Terrell May is set to trade Bondi for Concord after reportedly signing a three-year $2m deal with the Wests Tigers.

Despite being one of the Roosters’ most reliable forwards in 2024, the club stunned the NRL by telling the Samoan international he was free to find a new home for the 2025 season.

Watch selected NRL, AFL, SSN games plus every F1 qualifying session and race live in 4K on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.

The 25-year-old had a breakout season for the Roosters, so the decision raised more than a few eyebrows in the NRL world.

But May has quickly found a new home, signing a lucrative deal with the Tigers, where he will join Samoa teammates Jarome Luai and Jeral Skelton as well as new signings including Jack Bird, Royce Hunt and Sunia Turuva as the club looks to end a run of three straight wooden spoons.

The Tigers trumpeted the news, although the release revealed “An NRL playing contract with Wests Tigers will be signed in due course”.

“I’m really excited about this opportunity, and I can’t wait to get stuck into pre-season,” May said.

“This is a club with a very bright future, and I want to be a big part of that future.

“I know quite a few of the boys really well and they all speak fondly of the club and its people.”

Terrell May has a new home. Photo: NRL Photos

Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall was pleased by the news.

“Terrell is a good person first and foremost, and it’s great that he will be joining us,” Marshall said.

“He’s coming off an impressive season, and at 25, his best years are ahead of him.

“I look forward to welcoming Terrell and his family to our club.”

May will join the Tigers’ pre-season training in the first week of January.

May was a hot commodity after the Roosters told him he was free to look for another club.

Code Sports reported the likes of the Dragons and Bulldogs had also been in the hunt, while Marshall also pitched his plans for May last week.

It’s yet another rejection for Dragons coach Shane Flanagan who has missed out on several signatures, including Eels rep forward Reagan Campbell-Gillard.

The decision for the Roosters to move May on despite having not even started a two-year extension he signed earlier this year took many by surprise.

It also led to ugly rumours on social media, with May and his team threatening legal action against three popular Facebook fan groups, Code Sports reported earlier this month.

Terrell May was one of the Roosters’ best in 2024. Photo: NRL Imagery

However, the Roosters wished the hulking prop well after granting an immediate release on Monday afternoon.

“Terrell is not only a talented footballer, but also a good person and we would like to thank him for his contribution to the club,” Roosters head of recruitment Daniel Anderson said.

“Terrell will always remain part of our Sydney Roosters family, and he leaves with our very best wishes for the future.”

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.

Originally published as Terrell May’s $2m Wests Tigers lifeline after shock Roosters axing