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Roosters Criticized for Timing of Terrell May’s Release Announcement

Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson and the club have faced backlash over the timing of their decision to part ways with prop Terrell May. The criticism stems from a brief phone call Robinson made to May, informing him that he was no longer part of the team’s plans for the future. The call took place in November, just two days before May was set to play for Samoa in the second Test against England.

May, who featured in every game for the Roosters during the 2024 season and was among their standout forwards, has expressed confusion over the decision. He stated that the timing of the call left him blindsided and questioning his position within the club. According to May, the two-minute conversation with Robinson offered no clear explanation for his sudden release.

Speaking on SEN radio, league reporter Michael Carayannis criticized the club’s handling of the situation, describing the timing as “really poor.” He argued that the call could have waited until May returned from the Test series.

“I think there’s definitely a level of dissatisfaction and annoyance from the May camp,” Carayannis said. “He was halfway around the world, two days out from a big game, without his family or support network. Could you imagine if a Roosters player was told something like this two days before a finals game? There’s no way Trent Robinson would allow that. The timing was poor.”

While May suggested that the Roosters delayed informing him to prevent him from signing with another top-tier club, Carayannis dismissed this theory. He indicated that the decision likely stemmed from the club’s post-season reviews rather than a deliberate strategy to limit May’s options.

Roosters assistant coach Justin Holbrook later clarified that May’s release was influenced by the club’s focus on developing younger forwards. Despite this, the decision raised eyebrows, particularly given that May had been re-signed earlier in the year on a two-year contract.

May has been signed by the Wests Tigers for the 2025 season, but his departure from the Roosters has sparked debate about the club’s management practices and the treatment of players during transitional periods.