Tyrone May exited the NRL as a disgraced man at the end of last season, but Nathan Cleary has backed his controversial mate to return to the competition.
May was axed by the Panthers over a polarising Instagram post after Penrith’s grand final victory against South Sydney, in which he presented himself as a victim in the wake of a sex-tape scandal and suggested the triumph had vindicated him.
May pleaded guilty in 2020 to four counts of recording intimate images without consent, leading to a sentencing of 300 hours of community work. He avoided being jailed.
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Cleary made his support for May clear on social media, posting: “Always my brother. No matter what”.
The Penrith co-captain has since kept in contact with May, who’s spending a season with Super League club Catalans but is yet to secure a deal for 2023.
“I’ve been watching him play, he’s one of my best mates, it’s good to see him get his opportunity over there and taking it with both hands,” Cleary told The Sydney Morning Herald.
“I think he’s really enjoying it, it’s something different and he’s got away for a bit.
“I miss him. One day I’d love to see him back here. It’s been a good change and he can re-invent himself. We’ll see what happens, I’m just glad he’s playing footy and enjoying himself.”
Stream the NRL premiership 2022 live and free on 9Now.
May played 56 NRL games with the Panthers between 2017 and 2019.
Penrith’s 21-game winning streak at home was ended by Parramatta on Friday night, the Eels escaping with a 22-20 victory.
The Panthers and Storm will square off in a rematch of the 2020 grand final when they collide in Brisbane in Magic Round.
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