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Former Penrith star Taylan May has put his NRL career on hold indefinitely to fight mental health issues.
The premiership-winning centre is undergoing medical treatment in a private facility with the full support of family and friends.
May last month had charges of domestic violence dropped in court and was cleared by the NRL to resume his playing career.
He had pleaded not guilty to charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two counts of stalking and intimidation over alleged incidents in April and May last year which led to his sacking from the Panthers.
However, his manager Ahmad Merhi, has confirmed May is now under treatment to deal with his personal issues and that football is not an immediate priority.
Former Panthers star Taylan May is still without an NRL club. Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images
“He’s had some struggles he needs to deal with and he’s getting help,” Merhi said.
“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.”
The 23-year-old centre had previously been linked to the Wests Tigers as a replacement for Justin Olam, who has been medically retired.
He actually met with Wests Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson but the talks didn’t progress.
May’s brother Terrell joined the Wests Tigers during the off-season and has been one of premiership’s form front-rowers to an extent where he is now in contention to play for the NSW Blues in this year’s State of Origin series.
SPAT TO COST ROOSTERS YOUNG DUO
Sydney Roosters are in danger of losing two future NRL players because chairman Nick Politis refuses to deal with their agent.
Rising stars Mikey Nassar — an S.G Ball utility back, and Lachlan Metcalfe — a half in Harold Matthews, are both managed by controversial player agent Isaac Moses.
It was Moses who took Roosters superstar Joseph Suaalii to rugby union on a $5.8 million deal last year without informing Politis — or at least giving him the opportunity — to counter the rival code’s offer.
Politis now refuses to take his phone calls or text messages.
The Roosters were never going to match Suaalii’s union money but felt blindsided over the manner in which Moses kept them in the dark.
The Roosters had carefully overseen Suaalii’s development from a raw 17-year-old talent to a footballer who advanced to Origin with the NSW Blues.
We reached out to Moses but he did not return texts or calls.
Politis’ refusal to deal with the agent is understandable. In 2021 Moses was deregistered as an agent. The NRL described the breach that led to his ban as one of “great seriousness.”
He was found guilty of helping Parramatta skipper and client Tim Mannah to give evidence that was “false and intended to mislead an investigation” run by the NRL’s integrity unit into salary cap breaches.
Moses’ ban was lifted 18 months later. And it was Politis who helped him; providing a reference that significantly aided his case for reinstatement.
It’s why the Roosters’ billionaire chairman felt so betrayed.
