Following police accusations, Taylan May of Penrith and Brandon Wakeham of Manly resigned.
Following their charges of severe offenses by NSW police, Penrith’s Taylan May and Manly’s Brandon Wakeham were both officially stood down by the NRL under its No-Fault Stand Down policy.
May has been charged with three offenses relating to domestic abuse after his girlfriend was allegedly involved in an altercation on Monday, April 8, 2024.
The Panthers had previously rejected him, and his newly inked two-year contract is in peril.
The National Rugby League has notified the Penrith Panthers that Taylan May has been stood down in accordance with the NRL’s no-fault stand down policy, according to a statement from the club.
In addition,
“The club will not be making any more comments at this time; instead, it will continue to support all parties involved.”
After his arrest on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, Wakeham was charged with participating in the supply of illegal substances, joining a criminal group, and aiding and abetting criminal behavior.
Wakeham is not included in the Manly 2024 Top 30 roster; instead, he is under contract with the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles, the Manly NSW Cup team.
The 25-year-old did not sign a contract with the joint venture club for 2024 despite playing 40 NRL games, 25 for the Bulldogs and 15 for the Wests Tigers.
The ruling “should in no way be interpreted as a view on the innocence or guilt of either player,” according to an NRL statement.
The players are not allowed to take part in the NRL competition or any other competition as players under the terms.
The NRL’s no-fault stand down policy was created in 2019 and is applied to players who are expected to serve at least 11 years in prison; however, the NRL retains the authority to apply it in certain situations.
