The inevitable has occurred: Penrith has parted ways with centre Taylan May.
The ugly dispute between club and player is at an end with an agreement reached that will see May leave the club immediately.
“Taylan May is departing the Penrith Panthers effective immediately and is seeking other opportunities,” a statement from Panthers said.
“With respect to all parties, the club will make no further comment on the matter.”
May is currently stood down from playing after being charged with domestic violence related offences earlier this year. He is defending the charges and will front court again next year.
May, who likes to refer to himself as Batman, made his NRL debut for Penrith during the 2021 season, and won the club’s Rookie of the Year award in 2022.
But he leaves the Panthers without a Premiership ring.
He missed both the 2022 and 2023 Grand Finals – suffering an injury in the 2022 Finals, and sitting out the 2023 season after sustaining an ACL injury in the World Club Challenge against St Helens.
May is currently subject to the NRL’s no-fault stand down rule, unable to play in 2024.
The Panthers Board recently issued May with a show cause notice related a range of off-field issues. It sparked the beginning of what could have become an ugly legal battle between the two parties as May worked to save his NRL career.
It is not the first time a May has drawn the ire of Penrith’s Board. Taylan’s brother Tyrone was axed by the Board in late 2021. He ultimately moved to the English Super League to continue this career.
May only re-signed with Penrith earlier this year and was contracted until the end of the 2026 season.
“This club and the Panthers jersey mean a lot to me, and I’m proud to stay here for another couple of years – this place is home,” May said at the time.
The departure of May means Penrith’s salary cap plan again takes another twist for the 2025 season and beyond.
But the exact terms of his departure – and the financial implications – are unknown.
Troy Dodds
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.