After an injury-disrupted 2023 campaign, standoff Te Maire Martin has returned to the NRL side for the One New Zealand Warriors and credits his life away from the football field for keeping him balanced.
Martin started the 2024 season playing in the club’s New South Wales Cup team but, after Luke Metcalf suffered a broken leg against the Newcastle Knights, has earned another opportunity in the number six jersey.
“It’s always good getting to play first grade,” said the former Kiwi international.
“I had a good stint off the field last year, had a few games of (NSW) Cup to start the year off, and playing in grade and winning a game like that is pretty special.”
It has been an up and down 12 months for Martin as he started 2023 as the first-choice halves partner for Shaun Johnson before being sidelined by his own broken leg (fibula) and then returning for the club’s finals run.
The experienced playmaker would be forgiven for riding that emotional rollercoaster with all its highs and lows but, instead, he found balance in nature.
Fishing and hunting keeps me nice and happy. You’ve got to have a good balance of footy and away from footy
Te Maire Martin
One New Zealand Warriors standoff
“Fishing and hunting keeps me nice and happy. You’ve got to have a good balance of footy and away from footy,” he said.
“I don’t get too caught up in the footy on not playing or playing and I think last year’s stint off the field just made me appreciate playing.
“I just enjoy playing, and if I can play first grade it’s even better.
“You’ve got to try and find something fun outside of footy that you enjoy and not get caught up too much in it.”
Head coach Andrew Webster has been impressed with what he has seen from Martin to begin the season and believes a good run of football will see him fulfil his potential.
“When you’ve got a great attitude, you’re fit, you’re healthy, you want to work hard, it’s going to happen for you eventually, especially if you’ve got talent,” said the Dally M coach of the year.
“If you’ve got no talent, it’s probably a bit hard, but Te Maire’s got it all and his work ethic, and being a good person, is going to get him where he wants to, so he just needs a bit of luck with his body, and he’ll get it.”
Martin’s 78th career appearance on Saturday was just his 10th since joining the club, an occasion marked by a brilliant individual try, two line breaks, a try assist (for Johnson’s second try) and 22 tackles.