Penrith Panthers centre Taylan May has openly admitted he questioned himself during pre-season as he adjusted to life in a new position.
The prolific winger made a name for himself in his debut season on the wing but after suffering an ACL injury before 2023, May was given the chance to shift into the centres.
With Penrith set to lose star centre Stephen Crichton at the end of 2023 and May looking at a year on the sidelines, in conjunction with coach Ivan Cleary the decision was made to let the Samoan international prepare for a positional switch.
In his first five appearances at centre, May hasn’t looked out of his depths and has continued to improve as each game goes by.
“This is my first time I’ve played (full-time in the centres), I played one game in 20s but then Covid struck,” May told SEN 1170 Mower’s Club.
“When I (did my ACL) I knew what position I wanted to play, I spoke to Ivan (Cleary).
“I just watched Critta, every training session I was following his movements, even though I couldn’t run I was just watching from afar, that’s how I learned.”
The key to Penrith’s success over the last four years has been the world-class defensive structures and May revealed that he has almost solely focused on that area since his move to the centres.
“I feel like I focused on that more than anything, my defence because I know how hard it is,” May added.
“Penrith, our ability to defend, we back our defence and that’s mainly what I wanted to get down pack, I thought my attack would be alright to be honest, I wasn’t really focused too much on that.
“But defence, I was just watching a few people, I struggled at the start of pre-season to be honest in the centres, I was questioning myself if I was ready for it but then I guess that Wigan game and all that it just built my confidence.
“I knew training was going to be the hardest to defend so I was just thinking, ‘If I can get my training reps in and perform in the game then I’m sure it’ll get easier’.
“As I keep going the defence (is getting easier), I’m starting to get way more used to it.”