‘It’s so surreal’: NRL reacts as Liam Martin crowned Clive Churchill Medallist
The Penrith Panthers’ stunning four-peat has been capped off with an unsung hero claiming one of the game’s highest honours.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Penrith enforcer Liam Martin has been named the 2024 Clive Churchill Medal winner after a monster performance in the Panthers’ 14-6 win over the Storm.
The Panthers wrapped up an unprecedented fourth-straight premiership victory and in a team brimming with talent, Martin had a massive game.
Watch every game of every round this NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >
While other Panthers forwards had more metres, including 233m for captain Isaah Yeo, 157m for James Fisher-Harris and 134m for Lindsay Smith, Martin was a thorn in the side of the Storm all night, running 88m in 14 runs as well as three offloads.
Often deemed to be a pest, Martin was in the Storm’s face all night, making 46 tackles.
And his try was almost match defining, scored right on halftime to give the Panthers the lead.
Showing just how fired up he was, Martin reacted to the try by screaming in Storm centre Jack Howarth’s face in a massive spray.
When named the Clive Churchill Medallist, just the fifth second rower in NRL history and first since Cronulla’s Luke Lewis in 2016, Martin was blown away as his teammates lost their minds.
“Oh wow! It’s so surreal,” Martin said.
“I just want to congratulate the Storm for a fantastic year, I’ve got the utmost respect for you guys, you’re just there every year.
“To our boys, I love you so much. It just shows the character we have to dig deep. I was gone then, but to have you guys drag me along … and to you guys, the fans, love you guys.
“We do it for you. We do it for Penrith. Love yas.”
While the Clive Churchill decision can often be controversial, Martin appeared a popular winner of the award.
Former NRL forward Keith Galloway posted: “Liam Martin got that dawg in him! Clive Churchill surely!”
The ABC’s Paul Johnson tweeted: “So good when the judges get it right. Well done and deserved #LiamMartin.”
NRL.com’s Brett Keeble wrote: “Congratulations @PenrithPanthers. Four. Roar. Liam Martin should win Clive Churchill Medal, and Cleary, Yeo, Edwards & Luai were phenomenal as expected, but wow, Kenny, Turuva, Alamoti & Sorensen were enormous.”
Phil Gould simple added five emojis of clapping hands.
Another fan wrote: “Liam Martin has been the best player on the field and it’s not even close.”
Another commented: “Incredible game, better player, Liam Martin one of the great Clives.”
Before it was awarded, one fan wrote: “Liam Martin has to be Clive Churchill Medallist or we f**king riot.”
Another suggested: “Not sure he was the best player on the ground but definitely had the most impact on the outcome. Couple of huge plays at critical times and well deserved!”
Storm legend Billy Slater singled out Martin’s efforts in the third try, when he caught the ball above winger Xavier Coates, before passing to Moses Leota, who sent it out to Alamoti to score in the corner, which was ultimately the final try of the match.
“(The hunger levels were) the first thing I looked for in 2022, the year after they won the first premiership,” Slater said.
“I still haven’t seen a sign that they have dropped off in any of their effort areas, whether it’s their kick-chase — you know Liam Martin’s efforts to chase their own kicks tonight — it has been extraordinary.
“The way they’ve kept that motivation up, they’ve done it four years in a row. They did it the first year, they couldn’t quite get the prize but they are well and truly the benchmark and they showed that again tonight.
“The way that they were ruthless, that was incredible.”
More Coverage
Originally published as ‘It’s so surreal’: NRL reacts as Liam Martin crowned Clive Churchill Medallist
‘No one’s gonna do this again’: Luai’s bold claim on historic four-peat
An incredible game of attrition has seen the Penrith Panthers win their fourth-straight premiership. And Jarome Luai says no team will be able to replicate it.
Try again: The Storm grand final moment that will give them nightmares
On the 25th anniversary of Melbourne securing their first premiership after being awarded a penalty try against the Dragons in 1999, the club was left on the other side of a major refereeing decision against the Panthers.