Inshallah the almighty can save Taylan May’s career and lead the NRL player to The Frownlow Medal in 2024.
The Frownlow Medal is awarded to the player whose off-field demeanour epitomises the values of the modern-day footballer and draws attention to the status of footballers as role models to young Australians. It covers Australia’s four major football codes; the National Rugby League (NRL), Australian Football League (AFL), the A-League (Football) and Rugby Union’s Super Rugby competition. NRL player Shaun Kenny-Dowall won the inaugural medal in 2015, while NRL star Talatau Amone is the most recent recipient.
The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame honours former players and players who received media attention in previous seasons, for similarly scandalous behaviour, and its inductees include Ben Cousins and Julian O’Neill.
May recently earned his third Frownlow nomination for breaching Penrith’s behaviour standards and could be sacked by the Panthers. He is also under investigation for alleged domestic violence offences and was involved in yet another off-field incident in 2021.
Amid the controversy, he recently posted an image of the Quran on his social media account.
Perhaps he is seeking divine intervention to either save him from prison or deliver him the most coveted prize in Australian sport.
It might be a good idea.
Three other Islamic NRL players have earned Frownlow nominations.
Sonny Bill Williams converted to Islam after a famous dalliance with Candice Warner in the toilets of the Clovelly Hotel in Sydney, which epitomised his party lifestyle. He also chased money in various clubs and codes to the extent that he earned the name ‘Money Bill Williams’ before his conversion.
Payne Haas is known as a Friday Muslim. Haas also converted in adulthood and has committed various off-field scandals involving alcohol and some other unholy behaviour. It appears he only adheres to his faith on Friday, the holy day for Muslims.
The third NRL player to have converted to Islam is Anthony Mundine, who earned a nomination for The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame after years of what the media likes to call ‘polarising’ behaviour. Mundine’s scandals were actually not that bad compared to other professional footballers but he seemed to think he was the boxer Muhammad Ali, and there was only one Muhammad Ali.
So, if May is Muslim, he won’t be the first to be nominated, but he would be the first to win the medal if he is successful. Either way, he will be invited to the awards night for The Frownlow Medal and The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame later this year, but will he have beer of soft drink?
Image: Getty Images
The Frownlow Medal 