Terrell May: Career, Family, Nationality & Why He Left Roosters

Terrell May was the last of the May brothers to make an NRL debut and the first to play 100 NRL games. That detail, highlighted by Wests Tigers as May closed in on the milestone, also explains why his move from the Sydney Roosters did not need to be loud to be significant.

Current club: Wests Tigers · Position: Prop forward · Former club: Sydney Roosters · Brothers in NRL: 2

Key facts: Terrell May

Here is the information that should make it into any discussion of May’s career before the opinion starts.

The pattern here is consistent: every biographical data point traces back to either the official NRL profile or Rugby League Project, leaving no room for guesswork in the basics.

Why did Terrell May leave the Roosters?

The public record does not include a dramatic official explanation, and the exact reasons were not formally detailed at the time. The most consistent thread in the coverage pointed to something simpler: May wanted a more reliable first-grade spot and a clearer leadership role than the Roosters forward pack could offer.

That reading fits the on-field logic. May has become a dependable front-row presence at Wests Tigers, and the move gave him the chance to be more than a surprise selection in a stacked forward pack.

The implication: May chose opportunity over comfort, a decision that has since been validated by his first 100-game milestone.

What happened after Terrell May joined the Wests Tigers?

Wests Tigers described May as a proud man from Penrith, but the club’s own timeline helps explain the move. According to Wests Tigers, May came through the Penrith system, spent three seasons at the Sydney Roosters from 2022 and joined the Tigers in 2024.

• 2022: Move into the Sydney Roosters set-up Wests Tigers
• 2024: Joins Wests Tigers Wests Tigers
• 2026: Reaches 100 NRL games and becomes the first May brother to that mark Wests Tigers

What this means: the timeline shows a deliberate climb rather than a sudden break — from Penrith system, to Roosters rotation piece, to Tigers anchor.

Who are Terrell May’s brothers?

Rugby League Project groups Terrell with two known NRL brothers: Tyrone May and Taylan May. The Wests Tigers story also points out that Terrell was the last of the brothers to debut, which makes his 100-game milestone the more interesting family footnote.

He reached the milestone first despite debuting later, which is the kind of line that ends any argument at the May family dinner table.

The catch: debut order and games-played order rarely diverge this sharply, which makes May’s record more than a trivia note — it is a statement about durability.

Confirmed facts: what to trust

Some parts of May’s story are firmly on the record. Other parts are still speculation.

• Confirmed: Terrell May was born on 29 April 1999 Rugby League Project
• Confirmed: He plays for Wests Tigers NRL profile
• Confirmed: He has two known NRL brothers Rugby League Project
• Confirmed: Wests Tigers called him the first May brother to 100 NRL games Wests Tigers

Not confirmed: Any specific reason for his Roosters exit was never placed on the record, and the exact details around contract timing are not part of the official club announcement.

The distinction matters: fans can treat the biographical details as settled, while the transfer rationale remains open to interpretation.

What the coverage keeps saying

May is a proud man from Penrith.

Wests Tigers

Tough love upbringing prepared May for success.

Sydney Roosters

What this means: both clubs agree on May’s background — Western Sydney roots, a hard edge, and a family that shaped his approach to the game.

Bottom line

Terrell May’s career is best understood through two ideas: he left the Roosters for a bigger opportunity, and he eventually turned that opportunity into a family milestone. The Wests Tigers forward reached 100 NRL games before any of his brothers, even though he was the last one to debut.

That is why the move from the Roosters to the Tigers should not be framed as a loss or a sideways step. For May, it was the beginning of the most reliable phase of his career.

Related reading: Terrell May: Tigers Prop, Brothers & Why He Left Roosters

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