Tyrone May will be in the south of France about 5am local time on Sunday, trying to find somewhere to watch his brother, Taylan “Tiny” May, play his first NRL game in 436 days.
It will be an emotional day for the May clan when the Tigers host the Gold Coast Titans at Leichhardt Oval.
Having the middle May brother, Terrell, also in action for the home side, will further add to the occasion.
Taylan played his last first-grade game for Penrith in round 10 of the 2024 season before he was sidelined under the NRL’s no-fault stand-down policy following allegations of domestic violence. The premiers sacked him before he had the police charges withdrawn at the start of this year. He was later offered a train-and-trial deal with the Tigers.
Taylan told Channel Nine he had then spent five weeks in a rehabilitation clinic, two weeks in a psychiatric ward, and even felt “suicidal”. “It’s not a sob story; it’s how I felt,” he said.
Offered no promises of an NRL recall by the Tigers, May impressed in reserve grade, scoring a hat-trick of tries for Western Suburbs Magpies last Sunday.
Taylan May trains with Wests Tigers on Saturday.
While May, 23, admitted in the same interview on Nine that he could never “blame” people for wanting to see the back of him, his family always knew he would return.
“I never doubted Tiny’s talent or hunger to get back and play in the NRL,” said Tyrone, who had his own issues with the law while at Penrith.
“There will definitely be some FOMO [fear of missing out] when I watch him and Terrell play together, but there will also be a lot of happiness.
“Tiny has always had the talent, but it was up to him whether he wanted to come back and what he wanted to do.
Two sets of brothers will play for the Tigers on Sunday. Terrell May (left) and Taylan May (third from left) will run out with Latu Fainu (second from left) and Sione Fainu (right).
“There were always options for him. He asked me about the Super League, but I told him it would have been tough, especially having a young family and being away from loved ones. His game would have been perfect for the Super League.
“But I told him the best thing for him was to stay at home, and if he could try and play with his brother.
“He’s so electric, he’s so powerful, and he’s so strong. All I want is for him to go out and have some fun again.”
The May brothers grew up in Mt Druitt and often spoke about one day playing together, which will not happen now until at least 2028 after Tyrone extended his stay with Super League leaders Hull KR. He spoke with the Tigers about a return, but knew England was where he could continue to grow as a player and person.
“Never say never, though,” he said.
Tyrone, 29, was shocked when he watched Taylan be so open about his mental health, but was glad he had sought the professional help the family all knew he needed.
He was also grateful that former Panthers Jarome Luai, Api Koroisau and Sunia Turuva have made May feel comfortable in his new environment.
The Tigers have high hopes for 17-year-old Heamasi Makasini, a left centre eligible to be picked in the NRL from next weekend, as well as May, while Starford To’a has been a standout at right centre.
Coach Benji Marshall said on Saturday about May: “This is not just a story about what’s best footy-wise, this is about helping someone become a better person. There are a lot of things Taylan has committed to off-the-field to help turn his life around.
“Looks are quite deceiving. With the tattoos everywhere, the hairstyle [which has gone from coloured to straightened to cornrows this week alone], it could make you think otherwise about a person. But when you get to know him and understand him and see what makes him tick … everyone has their struggles in life, and everyone has their dramas away from footy, but at the end of the day, everyone is a person – we treat everyone as people, and as athletes second.”
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