NRL star Terrell May makes shock confession about what he REALLY thinks of footy – and reveals he took up the sport to avoid jail after growing up in one of Sydney’s toughest suburbs
- Terrell May’s path to the NRL is different to most
- Roosters mainstay, 25, admitted he doesn’t like the sport
- Started playing football to make sure he stayed on the right path
Football star Terrell May has admitted he doesn’t like rugby and often thinks about quitting the sport he only took up to avoid jail or a low-paying job after a tough childhood in Sydney’s west.
The 25-year-old prop also confirmed that one of the main reasons he took up the sport as a young boy was to give his life direction and avoid ending up in prison like many of his friends from Mt Druitt in Sydney’s west.
Life was tough for the May family growing up. Along with their older brother Tyrone and younger brother Taylan, who both played in the NRL for Penrith, they often skipped dinner as children due to a lack of food in the house.
School meals were also a non-event.
The trio attended Patrician Brothers College in Blacktown, but Terrell was no schoolboy star.
In fact, the forward line player was once overlooked by school coaches in a team of 30 players.
May continued playing football after his HSC, but his training appetite waned, resulting in the Samoan international quitting the sport twice, first at the age of 18 and then two years later.
It was encouraging to see his brothers excel at NRL level. After playing for Blacktown Workers in the NSW Cup, May was signed by North Sydney, who act as the Roosters’ feeder club.
Football star Terrell May has admitted he doesn’t like rugby league and has admitted he often wants to quit the sport
The prop (pictured right, with brother Taylan, left) also confirmed that one of the main reasons he took up the sport as a young boy was to give his life direction and potentially avoid ending up in prison like many of his friends from Mt Druitt in Sydney’s west.
Terrell May was given his chance at NRL level by Roosters coach Trent Robinson and he hasn’t looked back, quickly racking up 50 appearances
May eventually got his chance in 2022 from Trent Robinson and he hasn’t looked back since, now with 50 NRL appearances to his name.
But don’t expect May to watch the other three NRL semi-finals this weekend, as he’s doing so to provide for his family.
“Sometimes I just feel like I don’t want to be there and I don’t want to play,” May told the Sydney Morning Herald.
‘Some days I just feel like I could quit. It sounds a bit weird, but I get these thoughts where I think ‘is this really something for me?’
‘I’m very grateful to be where I am and to be playing for the Roosters, but rugby league isn’t everything to me.’
Ironically, May will be a key figure for the Tricolours when they take on Penrith in the NRL qualifying final next Friday.
May previously told former NRL player and podcast guru Denan Kemp As a teenager, he was fired by the Panthers for a bad attitude.
Now he gets the chance to surprise the reigning champions in front of his family and friends, along with former Penrith player Spencer Leniu.
May’s rise through the first grade ranks has been impressive, with top judges including Bulldogs boss Phil Gould believing he is good enough to eventually represent NSW in the State of Origin arena.
But the man himself does not seek praise for his achievements in the engine room.
“My biggest motivation is my family,” he said. “I wouldn’t be playing if they weren’t there.”
“I don’t care what I do…if they’re happy, I’m happy.”