Three games into his NRL comeback, Wests Tigers star Taylan May has opened up about the demons that saw him almost lost to the game—and his gratitude at being given a second chance by Benji Marshall to play alongside his brother Terrell.
In a raw and open discussion with Terrell on the MAYDAY podcast, Taylan, 23, recalled memories of playing backyard footy with his older brothers and father, who he said took things very seriously.
“I remember playing out the back and him (dad) roughing us up,” May said.
“I got coat hangered by him once, on the concrete too, he taught us to be tough, no matter what age we were, just go hard no matter what.”
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‘I was saying some outrageous things’
Speaking about the impact of being stood down by the Panthers in 2024 following domestic violence-related charges that would later be dropped, May acknowledged being in a dark place, so much so that he actually admitted himself into a health facility for treatment.
“I saw how everything affected my family, I was saying some outrageous things, thinking I was someone I wasn’t,” he said.
“It’s impossible to be perfect, we’re not meant to be perfect, having faith by my side has helped me a lot.”
While May says he always hoped to return the NRL, achieving it was far from a simple journey.
“I knew the talent I had and I didn’t want to waste it,” he said.
“I was training hard but my (court) case kept getting pushed back, and I just hit a slump, I wouldn’t even go outside my room—it was weird, almost like being back in lockdown, I wouldn’t leave my room, wouldn’t even go for a walk.
“Even though I’m back playing, I’m still a bit like that now, where I don’t want to see people.
“It’s like my safe haven, my room, but it can be a bad habit because it can put you in your own head a lot.”
‘You don’t need to be a superstar’
Together with the opportunity to play alongside his older brother Terrell, May says one of the key figures in turning his rugby league career around has been Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall.
“Benji gave me that chance, he was the first one, he really believed in me and that call (to offer a train and trial deal) changed everything,” May reflected.
“He gave me confidence and trust, he came and spoke to me, I just wanted to play for him. ‘You don’t need to be a superstar, just do your job’.”
Now he’s back on the NRL field, brother Terrell asked how he wants to be remembered?
“It’s not about caring what other people think about me, I just want to be remembered by my kids and my family as a good person, a good dad, to know that I always loved them and I was loyal to them,” he said.
“If I cared what other people think I’d be long gone, ages ago.”