Terrell May Learns Hard Lesson After Twitch Comments Impact Origin Selection
Terrell May, who has aspired to be a Twitch streamer since his teenage years, learned an important lesson this week: always be mindful of what you say when the microphone is live.
May had been one of the standout forwards over the first ten weeks of the NRL season and appeared to be a strong contender to join Payne Haas and Mitch Barnett in the middle for New South Wales in Game I of State of Origin. However, Sydney media began reporting that he was slipping down the selection order.
Once it became clear he likely wouldn’t be chosen for the opener, May made a flippant remark during a Call of Duty stream on Twitch. Speaking to a friend, he referenced a Blues jersey he had gifted him, saying: “Chuck it in the bin.”
In the same stream, he also joked about possibly switching allegiances to get a representative opportunity—remarks that seemingly sealed his exclusion from the squad, at least for now.
Former NSW coach Brad Fittler didn’t hold back, labeling the comments “pathetic” and urging May to “humble up.”
Two days after his omission was confirmed, May acknowledged his mistake, explaining that he was joking with a Queensland-supporting friend. Speaking on Nathan Stafford’s lawn care-themed Instagram page, May said:
“When I saw all the reports and the articles, I got frustrated and said something I shouldn’t have. That’s on me—no one else. I wish I could take it back, but I can’t, so now I’ve just got to live with it. I’ll keep grinding and work to earn that spot and rebuild trust.”
He added that he wished he had a way to explain himself to the Blues staff but is now focused on performing for his club, hoping another chance will come.
Coach Laurie Daley selected other forwards—Haas, Barnett, Spencer Leniu, Max King, and Stefano Utoikamanu—for the 20-man NSW squad, saying simply: “I just think the others are playing better than Terrell May.” Daley also confirmed he hadn’t spoken to May directly.
Roosters Departure Raises Eyebrows, But May Refutes Off-Field Theories
May’s unexpected release by the Sydney Roosters sparked speculation, given his status as one of the league’s top young props. Despite rumours, May addressed the situation on Instagram, saying the decision “had nothing to do with off-field stuff.”
Statistically, May’s performance is hard to fault. He ranks second in tackles this season with 467—57 more than any other prop—while only missing 11, giving him a 97.7% tackle efficiency, which surpasses even elite players like Isaah Yeo and Pat Carrigan. His 42.5 tackles per game lead all forwards, and he’s second in total runs with 219. He’s also among the top 25 in metres gained, a list that includes several players who made the Origin squads.
Despite his strong form, media narratives may have contributed to his omission. May currently sits third on the Dally M leaderboard with 27 points—behind only Haas among forwards in the top 10.
His exclusion adds to the puzzling decisions surrounding the Samoa international, who continues to be overlooked despite clear on-field value.
