Tigers make quick move to re-sign May after Luai leaving frees up big cash

The Wests Tigers have made retaining star prop Terell May an instant priority, and will be using the cash freed up by Jarome Luai signing with PNG to make sure they can keep the pack leader beyond his deal’s 2027 expiry date.

Currently earning $700,000 a season, Terell had already approached the Tigers about a possible extension late last year. That was put on the back burner after CEO Shane Richardson left.

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The Tigers reportedly sat down with May’s manager, David Rawlings, on Wednesday, hours after Luai told the club and playing group that he would be leaving after 2027. That exit frees up as much as $2.4 million in the salary cap for 2028 and 2029, and will go towards re-signing May long-term.

May has been incredible since he was ousted from the Sydney Roosters and took up a spot at the Tigers, recording 33 tackle breaks, 17 offloads, and 422 post-contact metres through the first nine rounds of the 2026 season already.

“He’s playing fantastically, and I really do hope he does get a look-in for some representative opportunities [with New South Wales],” Wests’ interim chief, Shaun Mielekamp, told AAP Media earlier this week. “We’re in contact, and we are talking. I’m sure he appreciates we went through a crazy time in December, but we’re having good conversations.”

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In addition to May, his brother Taylan, winger Sunia Turuva and rising star Heamasi Makasini are some other Tigers also free to test the open market from November, and will be major re-signing targets for Wests. The May brothers – Terrell, Taylan and Tyrone – have long been vocal that they’d love to play together, so that may play a role.

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And importantly, Jahream Bula will be a key focus once the Tigers get May over the line, with most of the Luai money going towards keeping the No.1 as a vital part of their spine. The club does have an option in their favour; they have to activate by mid-May, which would trigger a one-year extension for Bula, but they would rather lock him down completely.

“We’ve got a couple of weeks, and we’ll use those weeks,” Mielekamp said.