'Second chance': Taylan May signs with Wests Tigers

Joshua Mayne

'Second chance': Taylan May signs with Wests Tigers image

Taylan May has signed with the Wests Tigers on a train-and-trial deal.

The agreement runs through to the end of the 2025 season.

May was previously stood down by the NRL under the league's no-fault stand-down policy.

In March, he was in court after pleading not guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, two counts of stalking or intimidation intending to cause fear of harm, and two counts of contravening an AVO, per the Sydney Morning Herald.

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These charges were withdrawn three months ago, and the 23-year-old has since spent time in a mental health facility.

Subsequently, his return to the game was conditionally approved by the NRL.

May has now been permitted to start training with the Tigers.

In a statement on Tuesday, the club stated that he joins "with the intention of playing in the future" if "training and off-field standards" are met.

May made his NRL debut with the Panthers in 2021 before being released from his contract last year.

He will join his older brother Terrell at Concord.

"Clearly, Taylan is a quality player who will further strengthen our squad in the back end of the competition," Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson said.

"But we also believe his best chance of success on and off the field is if he is around family and friends.

"He will now have the chance to not only return to a team environment but also to play alongside his brother Terrell – which is important to him."

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Richardson believes May deserves a "second chance".

"So Taylan, like all our players, will be joining a club which has a culture of putting healthy relationships first," he said.

"Taylan has made enormous strides since we first met with him 10 weeks ago through voluntarily attending education and counselling sessions.

"All players deserve a second chance and we think this is the environment which gives him the best chance of success both on and off the field."

Joshua Mayne

Joshua Mayne is a content producer for The Sporting News currently based in Sydney, Australia. He has previously worked as a newsreader at 2SER and a journalist at Ministry of Sport. Joshua specialises in rugby league, motorsport and tennis. He is still waiting for Arsenal to win the Premier League again.