Cricket
Racing
Rugby
League
Motorsport
Football
Golf
Combat Sports
Basketball
Tennis
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Find your Sport Nation frequencyWhy Brandy wouldn't pick Terrell May for NSW
Sam Kosack • May 14th, 2025 4:26 pm
NSW legend and former selector Greg Alexander has revealed he wouldn’t select Terrell May in his NSW side for Game I.
May is widely predicted to make his Origin debut in the first game of the 2025 series after a standout start to the season that sees him sitting at second on the Dally M ladder.
His off-season transfer to the Wests Tigers and subsequent increase in minutes has him averaging 40 tackles, 172 metres, and 3 offloads a game.
However, Alexander believes that May’s lack of explosiveness means he would still prefer other options for NSW.
“You wouldn’t start Terrell May (and) Terrell May’s appeal for the Tigers is the fact that he can play big minutes but if you’re bringing someone off the bench you want impact,” Alexander said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“The fact he hasn’t been there is one thing but a lot of his runs for mine aren't effective runs… they’re just taking the ball up.
“I’m not knocking Terrell May; he’s been great for the Tigers… I don’t have him ahead of some of the front rowers that can play for NSW.
“Whatever NSW side is announced there will be a couple in there people will debate… but the player who wins the ballot from the coach doesn’t mean the other bloke is legless.”
Alexander revealed he would instead select Mitchell Barnett, Payne Haas, Spencer Leniu, and Jacob Saifiti as props for NSW.
However, SEN 1170 Breakfast host Andrew Voss believes Terrell May could provide value off the bench for the Blues similar to the role he played at the Sydney Roosters last season.
“I would have faith in him on the bench,” Voss said.
“How he developed at the Roosters, and if you’re saying coming off the bench you’re likely to play 30, but he's proven at NRL level he's capable of paying more, then I think 30 minutes of Origin, he might get a couple of offloads away.
“I don’t mind him as a selection off the bench but if you want your explosive Spencer Leniu and then Terrell May and you’re picking a backrower… I don’t mind a balance of that.”
May will have one last chance to impress new Blues coach Laurie Daley on Sunday afternoon against the Rabbitohs, with NSW squads to likely be announced after that game’s conclusion.
