Penrith utility Tyrone May has been given a stay of execution for at least another week.
The 25-year-old Premiership winner has been ordered to front the club’s Board next week where he will essentially plead for his career at the Panthers.
It follows a controversial Instagram post, since deleted, May published soon after the season decider against Souths.
“Penrith Panthers has issued Tyrone May with a show cause notice relating to his conduct following the 2021 NRL Grand Final,” a statement issued by the Panthers said.
“At today’s meeting of the Panthers Board of Directors it was determined May’s conduct constituted a serious breach of his NRL playing contract.
“In accordance with disciplinary protocol, May will have the opportunity to appear before the Board next Wednesday before a sanction is imposed.
“Panthers will make no further comment until the matter is finalised.”
May’s recent Instagram post featured a photo of May and Panthers coach Ivan Cleary leaving Parramatta Local Court with lyrics from rapper Drake: “And the dirt that they threw on my name turned to soil and I grew up out it. Time for y’all to figure out what y’all gon’ do about it. Love my brothers”.
May narrowly avoided jail after pleading guilty to four counts of intentionally recording an intimate image without consent.
The sex tape scandal erupted prior to the 2019 season but May has remained part of the Panthers squad and played in the past two Grand Finals.
Last week the NRL fined May $7,500 and ordered him to undertake further education programs in the wake of the Instagram post.
He is currently stood down from all club-related duties at Penrith.
Troy Dodds is the Weekender’s Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia’s leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.
