Wests Tigers Deep Dive of the Week

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Great analysis Jolls, would be interested in your take on a Terrell May as a 13.

He doesn't think he can do it mate when I suggested they try him there over the summer, doesn't have the passing/organising smarts.

 

[Jolls]

Great analysis Jolls, would be interested in your take on a Terrell May as a 13.

See below

He doesn't think he can do it mate when I suggested they try him there over the summer, doesn't have the passing/organising smarts.

RHS, I think you are right if we are talking about a ball playing 13; however, I have in the back of my mind a more traditional engforcer role that could work. I'm personally not suggesting that we move him there but let me do some digging to see what I come up with.

I think it would be difficult to simply do the same analysis as I have done for AD and company as we would need to look hard at the risk to our pack v benefits it would bring to see if even if he could transition if it would be of benefit to us. Of course if we were to land another high quality prop this could make it an easier proposition.

Without pre-empting the analysis my gut feel is that while he could probbly transition quickly the style of 13 he would be may not fit the style of play we need. In short; the big question isn't so much could Terrell May play 13, which I think is a resounding yes, but how does Terell May as a 13 provide our halves the time and space to play eyes up footy?

Not sure I'll be able to punch something out in the short term as answering the mail on this one probably involves changing the way we want to play. Is that juice worth the squeeze?

 

[Chunk]

Thanks mate, great analysis.

I like Twal starting at lock, I don't we can afford a 'lighter' player at the start of the game. We struggle to win the play the ball as it is, so we need as much strength and size as possible. And I think Douhi is our best bet at half, he has all the attributes and can defend well.

However, when the game starts to open up a bit, someone like Geyer could come off the bench and play as a ball playing lock, if he can, I don't know.

A ball playing lock obviously has to be a good defender. This is where Latu may fall down a bit, give him time he could baulk up.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

See below

RHS, I think you are right if we are talking about a ball playing 13; however, I have in the back of my mind a more traditional engforcer role that could work. I'm personally not suggesting that we move him there but let me do some digging to see what I come up with.

I think it would be difficult to simply do the same analysis as I have done for AD and company as we would need to look hard at the risk to our pack v benefits it would bring to see if even if he could transition if it would be of benefit to us. Of course if we were to land another high quality prop this could make it an easier proposition.

Without pre-empting the analysis my gut feel is that while he could probbly transition quickly the style of 13 he would be may not fit the style of play we need. In short; the big question isn't so much could Terrell May play 13, which I think is a resounding yes, but how does Terell May as a 13 provide our halves the time and space to play eyes up footy?

Not sure I'll be able to punch something out in the short term as answering the mail on this one probably involves changing the way we want to play. Is that juice worth the squeeze?

Doesn't the lock usually position deeper behind the attack to give himself more time to make the decision to run or pass.

I suppose we won't know if he's capable until Benji drills him there if that's even been considered, I doubt he would read my input on the forum then run out and try it lol.

 

[Jolls]

Doesn't the lock usually position deeper behind the attack to give himself more time to make the decision to run or pass.

I suppose we won't know if he's capable until Benji drills him there if that's even been considered, I doubt he would read my input on the forum then run out and try it lol.

I think it would require a significant change for us overall as May is not really an "enforce" he is a workhorse. I just dont see how it works without someone else having the creative spark. So to generate the rucks speed we would need a Royce/Bunty style of punch to allow space for the halves - so then what is May doing at 13. For me he is much better off playing the role he is anchoring the pack with Bunty/Royce providing momentum and Api and the halves working off the back of it. If we could create a power funnel to generate ruck speed there is less of a requirement for a ball playing lock.

It hink it is too much of a risk to bank on Bunty and Royce providing momentum - so a ball playing lock is where we generate the space needed - if we have momentum as well it is a good thing.

What we can't do at the moment is generate space in the red sonce where the defences are compressed. We need to either inject power into the middle to generate space of the back of ruck speed or we need different poitns of attack that create the time ans pace required.

Dose that make more sense?

 

[TheEnz]

See below

RHS, I think you are right if we are talking about a ball playing 13; however, I have in the back of my mind a more traditional engforcer role that could work. I'm personally not suggesting that we move him there but let me do some digging to see what I come up with.

I think it would be difficult to simply do the same analysis as I have done for AD and company as we would need to look hard at the risk to our pack v benefits it would bring to see if even if he could transition if it would be of benefit to us. Of course if we were to land another high quality prop this could make it an easier proposition.

Without pre-empting the analysis my gut feel is that while he could probbly transition quickly the style of 13 he would be may not fit the style of play we need. In short; the big question isn't so much could Terrell May play 13, which I think is a resounding yes, but how does Terell May as a 13 provide our halves the time and space to play eyes up footy?

Not sure I'll be able to punch something out in the short term as answering the mail on this one probably involves changing the way we want to play. Is that juice worth the squeeze?

I'm not really sold on May as a potential lock, I think he is a bit too slow in the running and passing department. I suggested it as I know a number of people in this forum have mentioned it. I would prefer to see May play less minutes with more punch.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

I think it would require a significant change for us overall as May is not really an "enforce" he is a workhorse. I just dont see how it works without someone else having the creative spark. So to generate the rucks speed we would need a Royce/Bunty style of punch to allow space for the halves - so then what is May doing at 13. For me he is much better off playing the role he is anchoring the pack with Bunty/Royce providing momentum and Api and the halves working off the back of it. If we could create a power funnel to generate ruck speed there is less of a requirement for a ball playing lock.

It hink it is too much of a risk to bank on Bunty and Royce providing momentum - so a ball playing lock is where we generate the space needed - if we have momentum as well it is a good thing.

What we can't do at the moment is generate space in the red sonce where the defences are compressed. We need to either inject power into the middle to generate space of the back of ruck speed or we need different poitns of attack that create the time ans pace required.

Dose that make more sense?

I'm getting my head around it, had no idea that the suggestion of using him at 13 was going to create a head scratching paradox, hope no one's getting a splitting headache.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

I'm not really sold on May as a potential lock, I think he is a bit too slow in the running and passing department. I suggested it as I know a number of people in this forum have mentioned it. I would prefer to see May play less minutes with more punch.

If he's to remain at prop that's a must, just not enough impact spending too long on the paddock I hope Benji's trying to drum this into his head.

Bring on fresh replacements to keep hammering up the middle keeping the pressure on the opposition defense.

 

[Jolls]

Part 5

Player Evaluation: Terrell May – Suitability as a Lock (13)

Before diving into an assessment of Terrell May as a 13 we should look at how Wests Tigers play so that we can determine if he is a “fit”.

The 2026 spine (post recovery) projects as:

• 7. Jarome Luai – a creative, tempo-based half who thrives off quick play-the-balls and broken defensive lines.
• 6. Latu Fainu – a young organiser with strong fundamentals but who requires space and protection to manage sets.
• 9. Api Koroisau – a deception-based dummy-half who manipulates ruck speed and short-side numbers.
• 1. Jahream Bula – developing as a backfield support runner rather than a structural playmaker.

Notes: Fainu and Luai’s numbering could be reversed with no change on the outcome. AD is a potential 7 candidate if he does not transition to 13. If we don’t have a ball playing 13 this will affect the way we execute the game plan.

The collective challenge:

This spine functions best when the middle wins the ruck early, generating speed and width before defensive lines reset.

West’s Tigers halves do not dominate through organisation — they thrive when they react to momentum.

Therefore; the 13’s role must create time and space for Luai and Fainu, not just through passing, but by commanding the middle corridor.

What “Time and Space” Means in Practice
“Creating time and space” for halves comes from three interlinked middle-forward dynamics:

1. Ruck Speed – quick play-the-balls collapse defensive lines inward, giving halves a 3v3 or 3v2 edge picture.
2. Decoy Depth and Line Integrity – tight middle lines and crafty 9’s hold A/B defenders, preventing early edge shifts.
3. Second-Phase and Offload Play – triggers “unscripted” shape opportunities for reactive halves like Luai.

A lock who can generate these three elements becomes the functional link that buys the spine room to operate.

Given that Terrell May does not currently possess a passing game his role at 13 would be to generate room by other means.

Background & Context

• Current position: Middle forward / prop
• Age: 26 (born April 1999)
• Height/Weight: 183 cm, 108 kg
• 2025 Season: 24 games | ~166 run metres p/g | 1,328 post-contact metres | 1,023 tackles @ 97% efficiency | 66 offloads
• Note: 2025 Kelly-Barnes Medallist (Wests Tigers Player of the Year) as a prop.

In essence, May was our engine room in 2025 — a relentless metre-eater and defensive anchor. The evaluation question is:

Can a player built on volume evolve into a modern 13 — or does his optimal value lie in his current position?

The modern 13 is not a one-size role — teams tailor the position to complement spine structure.

If we map May across the contemporary lock continuum the following is derived.

Ball-Playing Lock
Benchmark Skills:

• Ability to pass both sides short/long before the line.
• Reads defensive shapes, triggers shifts with timing.
• Communicates as secondary organiser behind halves.
• Possesses footwork for line engagement and quick play-the-balls.

Terrell May’s Fit:

• Passing range: Limited to short, flat passes; offloads in contact more instinctive than structured.
• Decision-making: Operates as a carrier, not a first-receiver link. Rarely manipulates defensive lines to create space.
• Mobility: Good for a prop but not elite lateral mover like Cam Murray.
• Communication: Developing; not a play maker.

Assessed Fit:
🔸 Low suitability (3/10).

He can support a ball-playing system through second-phase play but cannot run it.
To evolve into this style, he’d need significant offseason work in:

• Core passing mechanics (both sides),
• Game-management drills (linking with 6/7/9),
• Line-speed reads in both attack and defence.

Without those, he remains a carrier rather than a distributor.

Hybrid Runner/Link Lock

Benchmark Skills:

• High-workrate middle forward who complements halves.
• Good short-pass options at the line; can swing to either side in attacking sets.
• Has endurance to play 60-70 minutes while maintaining ruck speed

Terrell May’s Fit:

• Workrate: Excellent — plays long minutes with minimal drop-off.
• Passing: Simple but effective short hands.
• Endurance: Slightly below true lock standard but trending upward.
• Footwork: Compact, heavy set; effective through contact, not around it.

Assessed Fit:
🔸 Moderate suitability (5/10).
If the we were to opt for this approach, May could manage with targeted skill refinement.
He’d provide an outlet for Luai and Fainu in tight, maintain ruck tempo, and offer offloads as connective tissue in possession sets.

However, his lack of width passing limits attacking variation from middle third.

Traditional Lock

Benchmark Skills:

• Heavy contact, dominant collisions, sets physical tone.
• Drives line speed defensively, wins post-contact metres offensively.
• Offloads to generate chaos and second phase.
• Operates as an on-field tone-setter rather than organiser.

Terrell May’s Fit:

• Physical dominance: Elite tier — top 5 in post-contact metres among forwards.
• Tackling technique: High efficiency (97%), consistent marker work.
• Offload creation: 66 in 2025 (1st among forwards).
• Ruck tempo: Does not win the ruck consistently and does not have a quick play the ball.

Assessed Fit:
🔸 Moderate suitability (6/10).
May could become a traditional lock; however, requires significant work on his ability to generate ruck speed through quick play the balls. He lacks the “alpha” drive; he a workhorse not a pack leader.

With a complimentary power-forward identity, May’s style could anchor the middle with defensive ruck dominance and second-phase unpredictability.

Tactical Implications for Wests Tigers 2026

If we aim to build a ruck-control game and play “through” the middle to enable Luai’s short-side tempo, May could be zfoundational 13. To do so we need to build middle tempo by dominating the ruck with ball in hand. We have not been able to achieve this consistently over the last three years.

If we intend create tempo through ball movement, Adam Doueihi or a play-link lock is preferable.

May’s durability is already elite — the leap to a complete lock depends on significantly expanding his horizontal game (passing, voice, mobility) or having him play a traditional lock role as part of a power funnel.

Note: A “forward funnel” model is where a dominant middle compresses the defence, freeing Luai to exploit width. This could work; however, it would be heavily reliant on the output of Royce and Bunty to allow second phase play to be executed off the back of the go forward.

Conclusion

Terrell May’s 2025 form positions him as an elite middle forward. His skill set, without significant development, does not align with the emerging ball-playing lock type the current Wests Tigers game plan requires. For Wests Tigers, Terrell’s suitability depends on changing the club's direction.

Recommendation

The transition of Terrell May to 13 is not recommended; it would require us to change direction in our game play – from playing eyes up footy based on momentum to playing a power forward game. This is a completely different pack requirement/game plan to what has been developed over the last three years.

 

[Merlot]

imo ,26 will be another year learning to defend

 

[BZN]

Thanks Snidest, it is just good to know others find it as useful. For me to try and keep up with the game and keep my mind active now that my playng days are well behind me. Touch footy is about as close as it gets for me now.

Who do you play for?
Edit...I think I just found the answer to my question in a post a couple after... Murrumbateman.