State of Origin 2024: Inside Liam Martin’s journey from potential scientist to NSW Blues hit man
Liam Martin is the rugby league hit man who could easily have been a scientist. His mum Maxine and Blues teammates talk to DEAN RITCHIE about his journey to becoming one of the game’s toughest players.
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He is NSW’s tertiary academic – a rugby league hit man who could easily have been a scientist.
Blues forward Liam Martin, and his mother Maxine, have spoken about his remarkable educational achievements when was named Dux of West Wyalong High School in 2015 before studying to be a bachelor of advanced science at University of NSW.
Martin, 27, wanted to work in science around agriculture, his name remaining emblazoned in gold print on the school’s Dux honour board.
“I’m a bit of an undercover nerd, actually,” Martin said.
Martin left UNSW after a year because an elite career in rugby league began to emerge, which will continue Wednesday night during State of Origin II in Melbourne.
Although a 12-man NSW was beaten in Sydney, the game was partly remembered for Martin’s brutal hit on Queensland forward J’maine Hopgood.
It was a genuine Origin bellringer.
But with brawn comes brains and Martin secured a Universities Admission Index score of 90.
West Wyalong High School once posted: “Liam was a determined HSC student who achieved his academic and sporting goals. Our school community is very proud of your achievements.”
Reminded he could have been a scientist, Martin said: “If footy didn’t work out, that was the plan. I did a year or so at UNSW studying a bachelor of advanced science.
“I was probably going to go down the track of research into agriculture back in the country.
“Mum is a teacher (at West Wyalong).
“She’s a librarian so after school I would sit in the library and read all the books. The boys love it – we will do a general trivia and I know the most useless, random facts.”
The Penrith firebrand did all the science subjects at school – and excelled.
“I was the Dux of West Wyalong but it’s a pretty small school. I worked hard and mum pushed me to do the best I could to give me the opportunity to do what I wanted,” he said.
“I wasn’t sure what I was going to major in. Travelling to UNSW (in Kensington) from Penrith on the train was hard, and trying to juggle footy.
“It was put on the backburner when my footy took off. I’m not sure I will do (the degree) after footy, maybe. It’s always there.”
Maxine spoke proudly about her son’s commitment to studying.
“Liam loved his sciences. He did physics, bio (biology) and ‘chem’ (chemistry). He also did extension mathematics, English and PE,” said Maxine, who teaches geography and history at the school while also being the librarian.
“He could have been anything in that science area.
“He was interested in the agricultural industry. He loved physics. Liam was an unbelievable researcher. He loves finding out about things.
“When I was driving him (to Sydney from his hometown of Temora for footy) to play, he knew about pickle juice, beetroot juice and tic muscles. He used to research it.
“He is very inquisitive.”
The advanced science course at UNSW has an exhaustive application process.
“Liam started the course but just found it too difficult to combine with football, training, driving and catching trains for an hour-and-a-half into UNSW – it was just too much,” Maxine said.
“He was really good at school, he worked really hard.”
Martin has struggled to train this week due to a ligament issue in his toe but will play with needles.
“Liam is the softest, toughest guy I’ve ever seen,” said NSW teammate Zac Lomax.
Blues skipper Jake Trbojevic revealed why Martin was admired by teammates.
“He goes after the game,” Trbojevic said.
“Liam has great intensity and is aggressive. He really suits State of Origin. I think it sits well with him. I don’t think he has ever let the Blues down.
“Some of those, in kick-chase especially, are just amazing.
“He’ll be good to go. We were training a couple days in a row so have rested him out of some training stuff.”
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Originally published as State of Origin 2024: Inside Liam Martin’s journey from potential scientist to NSW Blues hit man
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