Wests Tigers prop Terrell May has delivered a stark message about where his true loyalty lies: not with the club, but with the coach.
In a candid podcast interview, the forward outlined his stance on club loyalty, citing painful exits from the Penrith Panthers and Sydney Roosters as the catalyst for his hardened perspective.
"I'll never be loyal to another club because at the end of the day, every club's a business. But I'm loyal to Benji."
A Contract, but Conditionally Loyal
Fresh off a standout season that earned him a nomination for Dally M Prop of the Year, May signed a contract extension with the Tigers that ties him to the club until the end of 2030.
However, May made it clear that his commitment is conditional on the presence of head coach Benji Marshall.
- He stated that if the Tigers ever dismissed Marshall, he would immediately leave the club.
- "Benji showed a lot of loyalty to me," May said. "I'll never be loyal to another club... I'm loyal to Benji."
Why He Stopped Trusting Clubs
May’s skepticism towards club management is rooted in two specific betrayals:
Departure from the Roosters (October 2024)
- May described a phone call from coach Trent Robinson, who reportedly told him he was free to leave—despite having signed a two-year extension just six months earlier.
- "They just lost all my loyalty and respect after I got that phone call," May recalled.
Exit from the Panthers (2020)
- Earlier in his career, May was told he would be dropped to the reserve grade side, St Marys.
- In 2022, he entertained a return to Penrith, meeting with CEO Matt Cameron. The meeting went poorly.
- May alleges Cameron told him: "You are not a gangster, you are not a vlogger or YouTuber, you are a footy player," and also made negative remarks about May’s brothers, Taylan and Tyrone.
- After listening, May walked away. "I sat there and listened... just left and was like this isn't the place for me."
The Bottom Line
For Terrell May, loyalty is a personal currency, not a corporate one. He will give it to Benji Marshall—but never again to a club logo or contract.