Controversial ex-Panther Taylan May is a step closer to a first-grade return with Benji Marshall’s Wests Tigers, following a stunning second half hat-trick for feeder club Wests Magpies in Sunday’s NSW Cup loss to the New Zealand Warriors.
With Wests trailing 22-0 in the 69th minute, May crossed for three tries in just nine minutes playing in the centres—but it wasn’t enough as the Magpies ran out of time against the NSW Cup frontrunners, losing 14-22 in Auckland.
The 23-year-old younger brother of Tigers prop Terrell May, Taylan’s career went on indefinite hold in May 2024 under the NRL’s no-fault stand down policy after being arrested on domestic violence-related charges, before being released by Penrith two months later.
May pleaded not guilty to all of the charges which were officially dropped in March 2025, paving the way for him to join the Tigers on a train-and-trial deal in an attempt to kick-start his NRL career.
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“Clearly, Taylan is a quality player who will further strengthen our squad in the back end of the competition,” Tigers CEO Shane Richardson said when May joined the club in June.
“He has made enormous strides since we first met with him ten 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.”
Following the Wests Tigers’ disappointing 34-14 loss to the Warriors in Round 19 it seems May is getting closer to making a full club debut, where he would play alongside his brother, Terrell, for the first time in the NRL.
Since linking with the struggling Concord outfit, May has played two games for the Magpies in NSW Cup.
May played 30 first-grade games for the Penrith Panthers between 2021-24 and also represented Samoa at the 2022 Rugby League World Cup.