Inside Wests Tigers’ $4m roster overhaul: Star prop Terrell May the final piece in club’s signing spree

As Wests Tigers rubber stamp Terrell May’s $2 million contract, Benji Marshall and Shane Richardson will have completed a signings spree tipped to be worth in the vicinity of $4 million a season. Full details.

The Wests Tigers have landed another seismic recruitment blow after convincing Sydney Roosters forward Terrell May to turn down St George Illawarra and be part of their $4 million roster overhaul.

May was surprisingly granted permission by the Roosters to explore his options on the open market a fortnight ago and immediately attracted interest from the Tigers, St George Illawarra and the Bulldogs.

It is understood the Bulldogs withdrew their interest at the weekend, leaving the Tigers in the box seat to sign May given his close association with star recruit Jarome Luai and Tigers captain Api Koroisau.

May and Luai toured England recently with the Samoan team, where it is understood Luai was working in the background to help secure May’s signature.

Koroisau and May knew each through their links to Penrith and it is understood the Tigers skipper also helped convince the 25-year-old to join the club.

Terrell May in Tigers gear. Picture: Instagram

Benji Marshall’s Tigers will have a lot of fresh faces in 2025. Picture: Instagram

The most compelling voice, however, may have been coach Benji Marshall, who pitched his plans for the club to May late last week, after which it is understood chief executive Shane Richardson tabled a lucrative deal worth more than $2 million for the next three seasons.

The Tigers confirmed the club had agreed terms with May on Monday afternoon and he will link up with a slew of new faces at the club next season - aside from Luai, the Tigers have also signed Jack Bird, Royce Hunt, Jeral Sketon and Sunia Turuva.

In-demand teenager Heamasi Makasini also inked a new deal with the club earlier this year in the face of interest from rugby league and rugby union. All told, the signings spree is tipped to be worth in the vicinity of $4 million a season.

While Luai is the billboard signing, May shapes as an important piece of the rebuild given his emergence as a front rower of genuine quality last season.

May was a fixture in the Roosters side this season but the club opted to give him permission to look elsewhere as they set about restructuring their squad following the departure of a number of players.

“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.”

Marshall said he was thrilled May had decided to join the club.

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

“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.”

It is understood Tigers officials spoke to their Roosters counterparts before tabling their offer in a bid to gain some clarity around why the club had opted to let him leave.

They walked away from those talks confident May was not a risk.

“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,” said Roosters head of recruitment Daniel Anderson.

Wests Tigers’ ‘Big Five’ recruits.

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

May’s signing comes as the Tigers prepare to hold talks with the players union over their decision to breach a handful of players last week for failing to return to training in proper condition.

The entire Tigers squad were given - and agreed to - fitness standards at their exit interviews at the end of last season. At least five players failed to meet those markers on their return to pre-season training and were given official warnings by the club.

Up to two of the players will be forced to front the board to explain themselves. It is understood the Rugby League Players Association will discuss the Tigers’ stance with Richardson this week as they look to gain an understanding of the club’s decision.

Meanwhile, Ben Hunt is expected to finalise meetings with interested clubs this week as he edges towards a decision on his future.

Hunt has already spoken to the Broncos and Sydney Roosters, and is expected to speak to the cashed-up Dolphins as he prepares to make a call on where he will spend this season.

If money matters, the Dolphins will blow their opponents out of the water. The Roosters and Broncos are limited because they have less space in their salary cap. Both clubs are also expected to want Hunt to spend some time at hooker, which may count against them.

Originally published as Inside Wests Tigers’ $4m roster overhaul: Star prop Terrell May the final piece in club’s signing spree