Penrith young gun Taylan May has broken his public silence to somewhat explain an incident which has landed him in Queensland court.
May was charged last week with assault occasioning bodily harm.
The incident in question happened in a Brisbane nightclub following last year’s NRL grand final, in which the Panthers beat South Sydney.
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May is allegedly to have dragged a person to the ground in a scuffle. The other patron was allegedly heckling Panthers players, including Nathan Cleary.
Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, 20-year-old May defended his actions.
“Anyone in my position, if they’re a good friend, they would have done what I did,” May said.
“I stuck up for (Nathan) Cleary. I don’t think I was in the wrong.
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“I didn’t want the situation to escalate. [My teammates] are big names, I’m a nobody. The security were on my side.
“The situation for me, it doesn’t really faze me. I’ve put it behind me and just focused on the game.”
May is due to face court on May 18.
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