It’s fair to say Rhyse Martin will be missed by Leeds Rhinos supporters at Headingley after completing his switch to Hull KR. Martin saw his move to East Yorkshire confirmed on Wednesday afternoon with the back-rower penning a two-year deal with the Robins.
It’s a move that shows KR mean business heading into the 2025 season and beyond and that’s due to his form in the blue and amber of Leeds. Martin has been a shining light of consistency during his six years with the Rhinos, joining the club ahead of the 2019 Super League season.
In that time he has made 128 appearances for the club, scored 36 tries and kicked 421 goals to rack up 1,000 points. Rovers fans will be hoping the Papua New Guinea international carries such form into next season and beyond as the club look to take the next step under Willie Peters.
Martin’s future had been far from certain for some time and as well as being linked with moves elsewhere in Super League and the NRL, it is thought that Leeds were keen to keep hold of the 31-year-old.
His exit comes as a huge disappointment to supporters then, but their reaction on social media says an awful lot about the calibre of player and man Rovers have recruited.
One supporter posted: “Finally confirmed and wish him all the best, he’s been a super signing and up there with the best overseas signings we’ve made. Be hard seeing him elsewhere, but Rhyse Martin thank you!
Another commented: “Really sad to see him leave Leeds. Through all the turmoil and disappointment we’ve had in recent years, he’s been Mr Consistent. All the best Rhyse (just don’t play too well against us, please!)”
“All the best Rhyse Martin. You’ve been amazing at the Rhinos,” a Leeds fan wrote, with another adding: “Good luck Rhyse Martin, going to be missed in a blue and amber shirt.”
A further comment read: “The true worth of a player is the reaction of the fans his current and new employers fans base . The sadness and good wishes tell you he’s well loved and respected by the Leeds fans . Then love and warmth of the rovers faithful and their expectation moving forwards as a club.”
“Top top player,” someone else said on social media, before another person wrote: “Appreciate it all Rhyseeeee. Have a good en.”
2 Comments
Leave a Reply
Leave a Reply
Huddersfield Giants
Tom Burgess says he won’t stay in Super League for long
Eric T Cat
August 29, 2024 at 10:50 am
As a Rovers fan I am really excited by this signing, possibly more so than that of JWH, Rhyse Martin is an outstanding talent, plus we tend to get really lucky with PNG players, Hull as a city seems to really suit them. I’m still reeling from just how well they’re doing, I remember traipsing to Chorley, Altrincham, Barrow, Whitehaven, Runcorn, the coach driver going to the old closed ground in Rochdale and panic ensuing in those pre mobile phone days that we’d miss the game. We didn’t. Now teams fear us, to my mind for the first 20 minutes we play like an NRL side, it just blows other teams out of the water, they’re shell shocked. Thank you Leeds fans for your respectful comments towards him, some may get upset, turn nasty, but Leeds fans are showing real class, that’s brilliant. I guarantee Brad Arthur will get you someone, you’ll be nonplussed at first, “Who?”, then 90 minutes later you’ll be dancing about chanting his name, and sales of jerseys with his name and number soar!
Anonymous
August 29, 2024 at 11:30 am
It’ll be good if Rovers can bring the LLS home and make the GF.
Good for the game for a Yorkshire team to stop the Lancashire trophy domination.