Taylan May Shares Mental Health Struggles and State of Origin Aspirations
Wests Tigers winger Taylan May has candidly revealed that he once believed ‘mental health was fake’, as he opens up about his personal battles over the past year and his determination to secure a spot in the New South Wales State of Origin team. The 24-year-old footballer took a break from his career in 2025 to focus on his mental wellbeing, before joining his brother Terrell at the Wests Tigers on a train and play deal in July of that year.
Diagnosis and Treatment Journey
After grappling with internal challenges, May sought professional assistance, checking himself into a private mental health facility for treatment. In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, he disclosed that he has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. ‘I always knew there was something, like I always felt different,’ May stated. ‘We just didn’t ever want to put a label on it. I thought mental health was fake, but honestly, now that I have checked into it and seen the signs, yeah, it’s real.’
He reflected on a previous interview with Channel Nine, where he admitted that seeking treatment was ‘probably the best thing that could have happened to me and opened my eyes up to a lot of things.’ May credits his wife for helping him recognise his mental health issues, noting, ‘My wife’s helped me a lot to be honest, she’s always known I’ve had something.’ He now regularly sees a therapist and psychologist, finding relief in therapy and medication that he feels is effective.
Career Interruptions and Comeback
Prior to his mental health break, May’s career was halted for over a year due to domestic violence charges, which led to him being sidelined under the NRL’s no-fault stand-down rule in May and subsequently parting ways with the Penrith Panthers in July. He pleaded not guilty to the charges, which were later dropped, allowing him to return to rugby league. Last season, he made seven appearances for the Wests Tigers before signing a two-year contract with the club.
May has made 37 NRL appearances since joining the Panthers in 2021, but he feels he has barely ‘scratched the surface’ of his potential. ‘I haven’t really had too many NRL games, I should have more than what I have,’ he expressed, highlighting his hunger for more game time.
Personal Symbols and Fitness Goals
The footballer also discussed the meaningful tattoos under his eyelids: the word ‘pain’ under his right eye and a ‘broken heart’ under his left. ‘Just to put it there, it’s a reminder of how I was struggling,’ he explained.
Looking ahead, May is focused on achieving peak fitness to impress NSW State of Origin coach Laurie Daley. In pursuit of this goal, he and his brother Terrell have revamped their diets with the help of American nutrition influencer Paul Saladino, eliminating processed foods and incorporating raw milk. ‘I just felt like s*** honestly,’ May said about his previous diet. ‘We locked into him [Saladino] and I just found heaps of benefits from it.’
State of Origin Ambitions
May’s ultimate objective is to earn selection for the NSW State of Origin team. ‘Trying to make Origin is my goal. Every kid wants to play that growing up and those were the only games I ever watched,’ he shared. ‘When I first came in, I wanted to make Origin but obviously, what happened with my life outside of the field, I didn’t get that chance. I feel I can go to another level ... I haven’t really got to show what I can properly do and if I play well, hopefully I get the chance to make it.’
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