NRL star Terrell May makes shock confession about what he REALLY thinks of footy – and reveals he took up the sport to avoid jail after growing up in one of Sydney’s toughest suburbs

Footy star Terrell May has admitted he doesn’t love playing rugby league and often thinks of quitting the game he only took up to avoid doing prison time or working a low-paid job after his tough upbringing in Sydney’s west.

The prop, 25, also confirmed one of the main reasons he started the sport as a youngster was to provide life direction, which many of his friends from Mt Druitt lacked.

Life was tough for the May family growing up – along with older brother Tyrone and younger sibling Taylan, who both have played in the NRL for Penrith, they often didn’t eat dinner as kids due to a lack of food in the house.

School lunches were also a non-event.

The trio attended Patrician Brothers College in Blacktown, but Terrell was no schoolboy star.

In fact, the front-rower was once overlooked for a 30-strong squad by school coaches.

May persisted with footy after his HSC, but his appetite for training waned, which resulted in the Samoan international quitting the sport twice, aged 18 and then two years later.

Watching his brothers excel at NRL level was motivating, and after turning out for Blacktown Workers in the NSW Cup, May was signed by North Sydney, who act as a feeder club for the Roosters.

The prop (pictured, right, with brother Taylan, left) also confirmed one of the main reasons he took up the sport as a youngster was to provide life direction and potentially avoid going to jail like many of his friends from Mt Druitt in Sydney’s west 

Terrell May got his shot at NRL level from Roosters coach Trent Robinson and he hasn’t looked back, quickly chalking up 50 appearances

Eventually May got his shot from Trent Robinson in 2022, and hasn’t looked back, chalking up 50 NRL appearances.

But don’t expect May to sit down this weekend and watch the other three NRL semi-finals – his goal is to provide for his family.

‘Sometimes I just get this feeling where I don’t wanna be there and don’t wanna play,’ May told the Sydney Morning Herald.

‘Some days I just feel I could quit. It sounds a bit weird, but I get these thoughts where I’m just like ‘is this really for me? 

‘I’m very grateful to be where I am and play with the Roosters, but rugby league isn’t the whole of me.’

Ironically, May will be a key figure for the Tricolours when they tackle Penrith this Friday in an NRL qualifying final.

May previously told former NRL player turned podcast guru Denan Kemp he was let go by the Panthers as a teenager due to a bad attitude.

Now he has the chance to stun the defending premiers in front of family and friends alongside fellow ex-Penrith player Spencer Leniu.

May’s rise in first grade has been impressive – good judges – including Bulldogs supremo Phil Gould – believe he is good enough to eventually represent NSW in the State of Origin arena.

But the man himself doesn’t seek praise for his performances in the engine room. 

‘My biggest motivation is my family,’ he said. ‘I wouldn’t play if it wasn’t for them.

‘I don’t care about myself….if they are happy, I’m happy.’