Panthers move to sack May for code-of-conduct breaches

The Penrith Panthers have moved to terminate the contract of Taylan May, issuing the centre with a show cause notice as he prepares to front the club’s board to fight for his career next week.

The Panthers last week presented May – who is due to face court on domestic violence charges in March next year – with a dossier of breaches during his time at the club, dating back several years.

The breaches of the club’s code of conduct are not related to allegations made by his partner that resulted in May being charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two counts of stalking or intimidating another person with the intention of causing them to fear physical or mental harm. May has pleaded not guilty.

May, who has been stood down by the NRL under its no-fault policy, will have to face the Panthers board next Tuesday in relation to a string of other off-field misdemeanours during his time at Penrith. The Panthers and May’s agent declined to comment when contacted on Monday night.

Sources with knowledge of the situation talking on the condition of anonymity said some of the breaches relate to incidents that took place before he signed a contract extension with the Panthers on March 22 this year.

The club agreed to a two-year extension worth close to $1.2 million to keep him at Penrith until the end of 2026.

Taylan May celebrating a try last month.Credit: Getty

Sources said that the list of breaches included in the show-cause notice include the use of foul language on social media and a recent video post of him in the passenger seat of a car driving at 96km/h in a school zone last month.

May, represented by lawyer Abdul Reslan, was granted bail last month. He is next due before the courts in March, 2025. Reslan is also the lawyer representing Jackson Topine in his legal action against the Bulldogs over their treatment of him while he was training last year.

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May allegedly assaulted Jessica May by punching her in the face during an altercation on the night of April 8, before being arrested 24 hours before Penrith’s Magic Round clash against the NZ Warriors.

Former Penrith Mayor Tricia Hitchen joined the board of the Penrith Panthers at the end of last season. She is also a director of The Haven Nepean Women’s Shelter, an organisation that offers a place for women and their children escaping domestic violence. She is one of two women on the Panthers board.

The decision to issue May with a show-cause notice has been driven by the club’s board.

With Dan Walsh

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