Taylan May Puts NRL Career on Hold to Focus on Mental Health…..

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Former Penrith Panthers star and Samoan international Taylan May has decided to step away from the NRL for now, choosing to prioritise his mental health before making a return to the field.

Widely regarded as one of the most promising young outside backs in rugby league, May played 30 games for the Panthers and represented Samoa at the 2022 Rugby League World Cup. However, his rising career was abruptly paused following an alleged off-field incident.

While the NRL had previously stood him down, ARLC Chairman Peter V’landys recently confirmed that May is now cleared to return to the competition after domestic violence charges against him were officially dropped.

That led to speculation about where he might land next, with the Wests Tigers reportedly among several clubs expressing interest. But according to his manager, Ahmad Merhi, May is not ready to make a comeback just yet.

“He’s had some struggles he needs to deal with and he’s getting help,” Merhi told The Daily Telegraph.
“Taylan is taking some time out away from the game to get himself right. We sat down and had a discussion about taking the right steps moving forward.”

Wests Tigers captain Apisai Koroisau, a former teammate of May at Penrith, recently endorsed the idea of May joining the Tigers — where his older brother, Terrell May, is already making waves as one of the club’s standout players.

With veteran centre Justin Olam being medically retired, Koroisau sees a spot for May to potentially fill in the squad.

“Definitely,” Koroisau said when asked if he’d welcome May to the Tigers.
“He’s an incredible player. He’s had a tough time off the field, but the talent is undeniable. Guys like that are hard to come by – his speed, his work in the backfield, that’s what you need in your wingers today.”

Koroisau also expressed confidence in May’s ability to bounce back to his previous elite form.

“A lot of it comes down to muscle memory,” he added.
“He’s been at that top level before, so it’s not like he’s trying to reach it for the first time. He works hard off the field, so I don’t think it would take him long.”

For now, Taylan May’s return to the NRL remains on pause — but the door is clearly still open for a future comeback once he’s ready, both mentally and physically.