Daley's tense one-word reply to Terrell May question after Fittler whacks 'pathetic' snubbed Tiger
Updated . First published
Blues coach Laurie Daley denies a bizarre live stream comment from Terrell May cost the Wests Tigers prop an Origin debut.
May was a notable absentee when Daley named his team for game one on Sunday night.
Many pundits were calling for the front-rower to play for New South Wales on the back of some exceptional early-season form for the Wests Tigers.
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But the player himself revealed his Blues snub while filming a live Twitch stream on Thursday night.
Asked on Monday if he had an issue with that, Daley replied simply, "no".
The coach revealed "I didn't have a conversation with Terrell" and when asked if he intended to speak to May he again replied "no".
Laurie Daley was short in his Terrell May replies. Nine
He was more expansive earlier in the press conference on why the likes of Max King and Stefano Utoikamanu had been picked ahead of May, who is arguably in better form.
"I just think the others are playing better than Terrell May," Daley said.
"Terrell is playing great, but obviously needs to keep knocking on the door. I'm sure his time will come at some stage."
On Sunday, former NSW coach Brad Fittler blasted May over his questionable activity on Twitch, telling the polarising young gun to "humble up" and labelling him "pathetic".
May appeared resigned to not getting a Blues call-up when he told another gamer on the stream, "You know that Blues jersey I bought you? Chuck it in the bin".
The other person asked if the NSW team had been picked yet, before May referenced a News Corp report which suggested he would not be selected by Daley.
"Nah, it's not the media. How do you think it got leaked? You think they're not just playing Chinese whispers?" May said.
The former Roosters front-rower then joked, "Might have to switch my allegiance".
Watch the 2025 State of Origin series exclusively live and free on Nine and 9Now.
Fittler whacked May on Nine's The Sunday Footy Show.
"[Manly back-rower] Haumole Olakau'atu did a couple of years ago something very similar, and then last year I went into Manly and he came up and apologised and sat there and just spoke about how he was immature," Fittler said.
"I really respected things he was speaking about and how light he was about it.
"I reckon maybe Terrell May should maybe ring Haumole and humble up a little bit.
"Seriously, what are these blokes thinking? There's people at home who just love this game. They just love it. And you sit there playing a game and all of a sudden you want to just talk like this. How blasé.
"Pathetic."
Watch the 2025 State of Origin series exclusively live and free on Nine and 9Now.
In 2022, following a Queensland victory in game one, Olakau'atu shared a Fox League Instagram graphic documenting the Maroons' win and added the caption: "Been a Maroons since day dot".
After earning selection for game one of last year's series — for NSW, not Queensland — he pleaded with Blues fans to forgive him.
"I don't know what I was thinking [with the social media post]," Olakau'atu said.
"I was stupid, I was childish and I hope all the NSW fans can forgive me."
