Laurie Daley is confident that Terrell May will eventually represent the NSW Blues after their recent conversation. May’s absence from the State of Origin squad has been a hot topic, especially following his comments on social media about missing out. Although Coach Daley dismissed any link between those remarks and May’s exclusion, they did spark debate regarding the player’s character and mindset.
For the second game, May was once again left out, with selectors opting for Stefano Utoikamanu instead, while Keaon Koloamatangi and Lindsay Smith also made it to the broader squad. Despite this setback, Daley has a positive outlook on May’s future chances. After their meeting, he expressed admiration for May’s enthusiasm for playing for NSW and noted that he is a “really good fella.” Daley mentioned it was beneficial to have an open discussion with May, stating there are no lingering hard feelings between them.
Daley encouraged May to continue his impressive performances for the Wests Tigers, believing it will ultimately lead to selection for the Blues. May has been performing notably well since joining the Tigers from the Sydney Roosters, and was among the top contenders on the Dally M leaderboard before voting became confidential.
Another notable omission from the squad is Manly’s Haumole Olakau’atu, who withdrew to support his partner during the birth of their child. Daley explained that the decision to allow Olakau’atu to focus on his family was made collectively by the coaching staff, as family takes precedence over football.
Looking ahead, NSW aims to secure a 2-0 series lead in the upcoming match at Optus Stadium, with players like May and Olakau’atu remaining in the conversation for future selections.