May as well sign all three
Bulldogs want Terrell but he wants any move to be a family affair
Canterbury has zeroed in on Terrell May with a multi-year contract offer that could prise the promising forward out of the Roosters.
One of the finds of last season for the Bondi club, May climbed out of the NSW Cup to finish 2023 as a major influence on the club’s stirring late season surge to the finals.
Such was his presence in the middle of the field for the Roosters, May’s season culminated with 17 NRL appearances and his international debut for Samoa against Australia.
Still just 24-years-old, May is off-contract at the end of the upcoming 2024 season.
His management has been pitching the 183cm prop-forward to clubs with an asking price of around $500,000 a season.
The Roosters are attempting to hold onto May, but face a delicate salary cap juggle with the likes of representative forwards Brandon Smith, Lindsay Collins, and Spencer Leniu and rising stars Siua Wong and Naufahu Whyte all tied-up beyond 2024.
May is an ideal target for a Bulldogs pack crying out for a hard-nosed big man.
The club are on the hunt for additional support in their front-row following the departure of Tevita Pangai Jr and Luke Thompson, while the club also opted out of signing Sio Siua Taukeiaho for medical reasons.
A Panthers under-20’s and NSW Cup player, May has a relationship with Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo from their days together at Penrith.
It was only last week that
May went public with his desire to sign with any club that would also sign his two brothers, Taylan (Panthers) and Tyrone (Hull KR).
“I want to be honest here, my talks are with whoever wants to sign us three brothers, that’s where I want to be,” May told The Bloke In A Bar podcast.
“Robbo (Roosters coach Trent Robinson) knows too. I haven’t hid it from him. Whichever club wants three brothers, that’s where I’ll be at.
“We are all off at the same time. That’s the preference, if a club can get all three of us, I’ll sign there in a heartbeat no matter what. “I think everyone would. “If you have two brothers you could be at the same club with, I think you’d want to be there no matter the situation.’’
The Bulldogs are constantly assessing their playing roster and won’t rule out discussing the acquisition of Taylan and Tyrone.
But it’s understood that the club’s only focus at this point in time is on signing May.
Taylan, an elusive winger, is on the comeback trail after missing the entire 2023 season with a torn ACL.
Tyrone is preparing for the 2024 season in the English Super League with Hull KR.