Tigers star’s season likely over after latest injury blow
Taylan May’s season is all-but over after the Wests Tigers gun was forced off the field after dislocating his shoulder in the club’s dour 12-6 loss to the Knights.
May lasted just shy of 20 minutes when he went down clutching at his shoulder after attempting to tackle Jermaine McEwen on the left edge.
Taylan May is helped off the field after dislocating his shoulder. Nine
The 24-year-old could not hold on to the Knights second-rower after the initial contact, with teammate and brother Terrell coming in to finish the tackle.
Trainers were immediately called out to the field to attend to May and take him to the sidelines, sparking concern for pundits given his recent history.
“They are calling for some strapping on his shoulder ... he might have popped that out,” Phil Gould said in commentary on Nine on Sunday.
Nine’s Marlee Silva soon confirmed that it was another dislocation for May.
It was that diagnosis that led Andrew Johns to believe his season would be over.
“The way he is holding it and with his previous injuries that looks like it will be a reconstruction. His season will be over,” the rugby league Immortal said.
Brad Fittler added at half time: “There is a good chance now that he will have to make the decision (on surgery) again.
“Assuming he will (have) an operation. Otherwise, it just keeps getting looser.”
The season hasn’t been smooth sailing for May at all, having already sat out for extended periods twice this season due to the same problem.
The first dislocation came just 15 minutes into the first game of the season with the Tigers, putting him out of action until round 7.
A month later, the same shoulder gave way again but he did not want surgery. He returned two weeks ago against the Titans and is now back on the sidelines.
While it is a major blow for the Tigers in their quest to make the top eight, Benji Marshall’s men did enter the half-time break with a 6-0 lead over Newcastle.
Tony Sukkar was the man to secure those points for the Tigers, crashing over for his first NRL try in the 10th minute after collecting a short ball from Adam Doueihi
Newcastle responded when State of Origin back-rower Dylan Lucas crossed in the 53rd minute to level the scores.
A lengthy stalemate between the two teams for the rest of the half looked to be setting up an extra-time finish, before Dom Young and Bradman Best combined for a 100-metre effort to give the Knights the tight win.
