NSW’s so-called grub almost an angel in eyes of NRL

[Pelican Press 0]

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

NSW’s so-called grub almost an angel in eyes of NRL

Queensland’s arch-nemesis Liam Martin is more a choir boy than grub, or at least in the eyes of the NRL.

Long hated by Maroons fans and players for his *******, Martin will enter Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night as public ****** No.1 in Queensland.

But a close look at his NRL judiciary record shows the NSW second-rower is more of an angel than villain in the State of Origin arena.

For all the talk about his foul play, Martin’s charge for late contact on Daly Cherry Evans in Origin II was his first since the NRL’s judiciary overhaul at the start of 2022.

The sin-bin in that match was also his first for Penrith or NSW during that time, with Martin having never been banned since the Panthers’ run of dominance began in 2020.

“It’s a fine line, and I feel like I have it down pat really well,” Martin told AAP.

“I try and play aggressive and tough, but I don’t go out of my way to injure people or stuff like that.

“I always play a physical and tough game, but I feel like I have the mental side that I won’t push it too far.”

Martin’s numbers are well at odds with almost every other forward ahead of Wednesday night’s decider.

Of all the front and back-rowers from each side since 2022, only Jake Trbojevic – considered rugby league’s nicest man – and Kurt Capewell have less charges than Martin.

His rap sheet in that time also pales in comparison to the likes of Maroons second-rower Felise Kaufusi (six charges) and his Queensland teammates Lindsay Collins and Jeremiah Nanai (five each).

Spencer Leniu is the biggest repeat offender in the Blues team, with five charges in that time.

“They (Queenslanders) would think I’d have a record,” Martin said. “But I think I do take some pride in it.

“When you’re playing you want to be doing the best for the team and if you’re sitting on the sideline for extended periods it’s not the best for the team.”

Martin has long been one of the most composed heads on the field at Penrith, having gone from rookie five years ago to a key cog in their premiership run.

He has again been one of the Blues’ best in this series and will likely spend 80 minutes on the right edge on Wednesday, with Mitch Barnett coming onto the bench for Haumole Olakau’atu.

“There are certainly periods of his game where he is really controlled, but he’s also able to pick his moment really well,” Panthers co-captain Isaah Yeo said.

“He is able to bring himself back down after a big moment. You see him standing there, he is very excited. There is a lot going on.

“But he is able to bring himself back down to even. You need to be able to do that, if you go too far that’s when you give away penalties or you start to get too tired.

“He walks that line well.”

NRL JUDICIARY CHARGES FOR ORIGIN FORWARDS SINCE 2022:

NSW:

Jake Trbojevic: 0

Reece Robson: 1

Payne Haas: 2

Angus Crichton: 1

Liam Martin: 1

Cameron Murray: 1

Mitch Barnett: 3

Spencer Leniu: 5

QUEENSLAND:

Reuben Cotter: 1

Ben Hunt: 0

Lindsay Collins: 5

Kurt Capewell: 0

Jeremiah Nanai: 5

Patrick Carrigan: 2

Harry Grant: 2

Moeaki Fotuaika: 3

Felise Kaufusi: 6

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

#NSWs #socalled #grub #angel #eyes #NRL

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up