State of Origin selection news: Liam Martin could make NSW debut
He only made his NRL debut 543 days ago but the Panthers rookie has surged into State of Origin contention for NSW.
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He only made his NRL debut 543 days ago but Panthers forward Liam Martin has suddenly surged into State of Origin contention for NSW.
Martin, 23, played his first NRL game on March 30 last year – coming off the bench in jumper 21 during a 32-2 loss to Melbourne at Carrington Park, Bathurst. He has only played 33 NRL games.
Yet in that short period, Martin has become an unsung hero in Penrith’s relentless surge toward the club’s third premiership. And his uncompromising, tough style has certainly impressed NSW coach, Brad Fittler.
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“Liam Martin, he would be a ‘smokey’,” said Fittler. “He only made his debut last year.
“He plays with a lot of spirit and is very aggressive. He is physical and they are the sort of qualities that make really good Origin players.
“Liam is being looked at. It’s hard not to notice all the Panthers, the way they are playing, particularly Martin.”
Martin is averaging 75 minutes a game this season with 83 run metres and 37 post-contact metres. He has also completed 29 tackle busts and averaged nearly 30 tackles a match.
He has been involved in 16 wins this season.
Martin will line-up in the second-row again for Saturday afternoon’s final round match against Canterbury at ANZ Stadium.
Fittler and NSW Origin Adviser, Greg Alexander, both former Penrith champions, will be closely monitoring the match and Martin.
“He is tough, can hit hard, has great footwork and builds good combinations for an edge backrower,” Alexander said.
“These are the things Liam has in his game.”
Just last year, Fittler showed he was prepared to select a full-blown rookie, choosing Brisbane giant Payne Haas after just 10 NRL games.
NSW and Queensland will select extended squads this year given matches will be played over three successive weeks with no additional players permitted to enter a team bubble mid-series due to injury.
The final squad number hasn’t yet been finalised but it could be as high as 27, which would allow the selection of another ten players outside the top 17.
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Born in the northeast Riverina town of Temora, Martin is the cousin of Panthers assistant coach, Trent Barrett, also Temora born.
In June this year, Martin told News Corp: “As a kid I watched Trent play all the time and actually went for St George Illawarra because he played there. It was great to have him to look up to.”
Just last month, Martin signed a contract extension keeping him at Penrith until the end of 2023.
“Like so many players in our current NRL squad, Liam has come through our junior development system and impressed at every level,” said Panthers general manager of rugby league, Matt Cameron.
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“He was given an opportunity in the starting side this season and there is no question he has taken that opportunity with both hands.”
NSW will also look at Panthers lock Isaah Yeo with halfback Nathan Cleary a selection certainty. Penrith centre Stephen Crichton is certain to play for NSW but he may have to wait another year.
Panthers hooker Api Koroisau has been wonderful this year but remains behind Blues incumbent, Damien Cook.
Originally published as State of Origin selection news: Liam Martin could make NSW debut