Tyrone May says resisting an offer last year to play alongside his brothers in the NRL and owning up to his own mistakes paved the way for him to be heading to Las Vegas as a world champion.
May, who played a major role in Hull KR's 30-24 World Club Challenge triumph against the Broncos, will be a key player for the Robins in this weekend's Super League clash against Leeds at Allegiant Stadium.
“I had the opportunity to go back home and play with my brothers last year,” May said. “But I’m glad I made the decision to stay here and achieve what we’ve achieved.
“That was the main reason I wanted to stay. I could see the club going in a trajectory that I wanted to be a part of.”
Winger or centre Taylan is at Wests Tigers after joining the club on a train-and-trial deal midway through last season while prop Terrell played the full season at the joint venture in 2025 - so presumably May's opportunity was at Concord.
“There’s always going to be that temptation to play with my brothers,” said Tyrone. “It’s something that we’ve spoken about, that we’ve dreamed of doing since we started walking, really.
“Every time contract time comes up, there’ll always be that chat. We all fall off contract at the same time but that’s not until the end of 2027 so every time that comes, we’ll cross that bridge.
“But I did have the opportunity, and I turned it down because I thought this was the right thing to do."
After a shimmering WCC performance, in which he set up two tries with kicks and seemed to be everywhere in Hull KR's shock win, Tyrone also made reference to his own significant and protracted fall from grace.
I can’t wait to watch him play. He’s one of my favourite players to watch - even though he’s my brother.
Tyrone May on brother Taylan
Taylan May Try
In 2021, he was released by Penrith over an Instagram post in which he appeared unrepentant in relation to an earlier criminal charge for disseminating intimate images without consent.
The Samoa international indicated it was a long process to understand the nature and extent of his wrongdoing.
“Rock bottom? I guess you could say when I was in that limbo," May said.
"I didn’t really know if I was going to play, going through the stuff that I caused myself and having the realisation I had to look in the mirror and accepting it was my fault and move on.
“When I moved over to the Catalans, that was a realisation that there is a … people don’t always have the same opinion. It took for me to leave to acknowledge that and then finally accept that I was in the wrong.”
This season, like the rest of us, he’ll be glued to the TV watching Terrell and Taylan in action.
“(I’m) very happy, especially with my youngest brother going through the stuff that he did last year and being able to turn the corner and show what he showed to the world,” May said in reference to Taylan.
“Now he gets a full pre-season. Last year he was coming off doing nothing, being able to produce the footy that he can. He’s an exciting talent.
"I can’t wait to watch him play. He’s one of my favourite players to watch - even though he’s my brother.”
