May should be congratulated: Gould

CANTERBURY Bulldogs boss Phil Gould has claimed that Penrith winger Taylan May “should be congratulated” after being found guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in a pub fight.

May has been handed a two-game suspension, which the NRL deferred until the beginning of next season to allow the rookie winger to play in the finals series and World Cup.

In a bizarre tweet in the early hours of Thursday morning, Gould said: “Why argue over when Taylan May suspension should be served? Why was he suspended at all?

“No conviction recorded by court. $1000 fine. Hardly serious matter. Video clearly shows he defused situation before it escalated. Why are footballers always wrong? May should be congratulated.”

His comments come after magistrate Matthew McLaughlin labelled May’s actions “reprehensible” and “cowardly”.

The victim struck his head on the floor during the altercation.

Gould posted his comments after a long night at the Canterbury Bulldogs player-ofthe-year function.

Remarkably, independent commission chairman Peter V’landys has revealed the suspension was deferred “for the fans”.

He told Channel 9: “A lot of ex-players look at it through a player’s lens, we look at it through everyone’s lens, and the most important person at the moment is the fan.

“Why penalise Penrith fans for an indiscretion that the player did? The person that should be paying the penalty is the player, and (May) will, because he will miss two matches and a substantial part of his salary.”

May (pictured) was also fined $7500 – half suspended – by the NRL and ordered to undergo counselling and educational training.

May was out with teammates when he dragged a man to the ground inside a Sunshine Coast pub following Penrith’s premiership celebrations.

After fighting the charge, May was found guilty of assault occasioning bodily harm in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court.

He had no conviction recorded, but was fined $1000 and ordered by the court to pay another $1000 to the victim.