‘He’s in real agony here’: Tigers nightmare as star injures shoulder for third time in 2026

After bravely battling on for much of 2026 there are fears Wests Tigers centre Taylan May’s NRL season could be over.

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The star centre was left prone on the Newcastle turf after attempting a tackle on powerful Knights second rower Jermaine McEwen with the Tigers leading 6-0 midway through the first half of their Round 17 clash at McDonald Jones Stadium.

Immediately in pain, May appeared to re-injure the right shoulder he first hurt back in Round 2 and has since seen him spend multiple weeks on the sidelines already in 2026.

“That hurt May, he’s in trouble,” Michael Ennis said in commentary on Fox League.

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“It was powerful run, Jermaine McEwen is incredibly strong through the hips, he carries the ball with venom,” he continued.

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Play was quickly stopped and the Wests Tigers’ trainer immediately signalled to the bench for a replacement with the 24-year-old’s afternoon clearly over, if not his season.

“He’s gone, he’s in real agony here,” Ennis continued as May limped forlornly to the far sideline as he was replaced by 18-year-old Heamasi Makasini. 

May will no doubt be sent for shoulder scans, but things don’t look good Tigers fans.

Even worse, the Knights won the match with 12 unanswered second-half points in wet conditions.

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