NRL news 2025: Phil Gould almost signed Terrell May to Bulldogs, State of Origin bolter

Bulldogs boss Phil Gould has revealed he almost landed the signing of Terrell May and now believes the front-rower could be in line for a State of Origin debut.

The 25-year-old has been a standout for the Wests Tigers in the opening two rounds, giving his former club the Sydney Roosters food for thought after axing him last year.

It's been a rollercoaster career for May to date, playing junior footy at Penrith before opting to give the game away for a number of years.

Advertisement

READ MORE: Khawaja's stoush with Queensland cricket revealed

READ MORE: McGuire reveals rival's $2.5m war chest in hunt for teen star

READ MORE: Smith's next move sealed as Roosters tenure fizzles out

He eventually found his way back, first through NSW Cup and then into the top squad at the Tricolours, where he enjoyed a breakout campaign and represented Samoa.

May's off-season move was well-publicised, with the Roosters failing to give a clear insight into why they offloaded him to the Tigers.

May himself has suggested he never got a clear explanation from anyone at the Chooks as to why he was no longer wanted, after he had inked a contract extension just months earlier.

Terrell May in action for the Tigers. Getty

It's looked an even more bizarre decision early in 2025 as May continues to turn heads, putting himself firmly in the mix for a spot in the NSW Blues squad in May.

"He's every chance of playing for NSW, from what he's done the last couple of weeks and what he did last year," Gould said on Wide World of Sport's Six Tackles With Gus.

"Terrell May is a late maturer, but he is producing Origin-like benchmarks in his game.

"Terrell probably wasn't as dedicated in the early years as a lot of the other players and slipped through the cracks. He's had to find his way back the hard way, but there is a determination within him now to prove how good he can be.

"He's got the best football in front of him and it was a good pick up by the Tigers.

"He's pretty tight-lipped and so are the Roosters about what happened there, as to why he finished up last season, but it's been the Wests Tigers' gain."

Watch the 2025 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and 9Now.

May has averaged 183 run metres and 39 tackles in the first two games and while it's a small sample size, Tigers fans have already fallen in love with the prop.

Gould is also a huge admirer of May - who is admittedly a unique individual away from the field - and revealed his initial desire to bring him to Belmore before May inked an extension with the Roosters.

Phil Gould. Nine

"I actually shook hands with his manager on a deal 16 months ago, but it didn't eventuate," Gould said.

"I'm not gonna tell the story … but I've always rated Terrell as a player. He's a very determined young man and he's got his best football in front of him.

"I'm not saying he will play Origin, but he's got the credentials to play if he keeps going.

"If they want an 80-minute middle forward - Terrell May wouldn't be out of place and he wouldn't be intimidated by it."

When pressed on the details of the failed signing, Gould declined to elucidate.

Click here to read article