Terrell May admits he “shot himself in the foot” with comments made on Twitch that may have cruelled his Origin hopes, but will continue to spend most nights playing video games on the streaming platform – and he has the Wests Tigers’ blessing.
May was overlooked by NSW for game one, and did not help his selection chances when he revealed during a live stream of him playing Call Of Duty that he had already missed out, and responded to one comment: “You know that Blues jersey I bought you? Chuck it in the bin.”
But a season-ending knee injury to Blues’ prop Mitch Barnett has created a front-row vacancy for game two in Perth, which puts May back in the conversation.
The more likely scenario is Melbourne’s Stefano Utoikamanu being elevated to the starting side, with May, South Sydney’s Keaon Koloamatangi, Penrith’s Lindsay Smith and Manly’s Jake Trbojevic in contention for a spot in the extended squad, and only if the Blues decide to include a fourth front-rower.
May said he would love the chance to play Origin, but added that although he regretted making the “stupid comment” he would not scale back the hours he spent gaming. While he does not play every night, May has been known to play more than five hours in any one session, anywhere up to 20 hours a week, and is often watched by more than 3000 viewers.
To be fair to May, the excessive gaming, which amounts to almost half the time he spends on the training paddock, has not taken anything away from his form.
The 26-year-old said he had been quiet the past week because of a busy training schedule, but added it had nothing to do with the blowback he received for the comments made about the Blues.
Terrell May helps launch Sunday’s Beer Footy and Food Festival at North Sydney OvalCredit: Steve Siewert/SMH
“Everyone makes mistakes, and I take it as a lesson, not a loss,” May said, as he helped launch Sunday’s Beer Food and Footy Festival at North Sydney Oval.
“I wish I could take it back, but you can’t because it’s live-streamed to everyone.
“I’m not on every night. It depends on how I’m feeling after training, and if the family isn’t doing anything, I’ll jump on for a bit.
“It’s more about trying to make a living off the field, and giving people more of an insight into my life. I love playing games.
“I hopped on the next day [after those Blues’ comments]. People wanted to come in and get more stuff out of me. I’ll be the same person, no matter what happens.
“I’d still love to play for the Blues. It’s something I’ve been striving for the whole year. Even last year I wanted to get my foot in the door. If that opportunity comes, even if I make the train-on squad – just to go in for a few days and experience what it’s like – it would be a dream come true.”
Tigers CEO Shane Richardson felt no need to ask May to scale back his gaming commitments, saying: “I’m only aware of Twitch because of the article that was written, but I didn’t have to talk to him about it. I’d never heard of Twitch.
“I’ve got a policy with all the players, which is as long as what they are doing doesn’t directly affect the club in a detrimental way, they’ve got a right to their own IP.
“What annoys me most is when they do express their views and show some sort of personality, everyone, including the media, wants to bag them out.
“Terrell is an intelligent human being, and as long as his decisions do not affect the club, I don’t need to get involved.”
Tigers co-captain Api Koroisau loved the fact May, who is one of the quirkier players in the NRL – he once ran a marathon with little training over the summer, and convinced a few Tigers teammates to start drinking a coconut-water concoction before games – was happy to show viwers the real him on the streaming service.
As for May’s Origin credentials, Koroisau, who has played for the Blues, said: “I knew he was a good player when he was coming here, but to see the amount of work he gets through – he’s never tired, he communicates well, even when he’s tired, and on the Origin arena, it’s all about grit, and Terrell is there for us every single week. He wouldn’t let anyone down.”
The Beer, Footy and Food Festival will be held on Sunday at North Sydney Oval, featuring the Bears playing Penrith in the NSW Cup, plus 20 craft brewers, internationals food stalls and curtain-raising games including Ukraine, Philippine Admirals and Latin Heat, among others.
