Te Maire Martin has only been a member of the Penrith Panthers for a little under two weeks, but already he likes what he sees.
Following a stellar season with the Wests Tigers that saw him named Holden Cup Five-eighth of the Year, Martin was snapped up by the Panthers on a three year deal in early July.
Speaking with the Weekender, the 20-year-old superstar in the making opened up on his new surrounds and the benefits of having everything under the one roof.
“The Panthers are very organised, very professional,” Martin said.
“Everything from on-field to the gym and changing rooms, we even get breakfast and lunch, it’s all there – it’s a one-stop-shop.
“At the Tigers you’d sometimes have to train at Leichhardt and then travel to Concord to use the gym. It’s good to have everything in one place.”
Martin also praised Penrith’s training staff for helping him keep fit, healthy and focused.
“Everyone is really professional around here, they are even keeping me on top of my diet and supplement intake,” he said.
“We get a lot of stuff here that you didn’t get at the Tigers. Everyone is happy and everyone is ready to give you a hand.”
Martin is receiving plenty of support from current Panthers halves combination Jamie Soward and Peter Wallace.
It’s ironic given if all goes to plan, he will one day replace one of them in Penrith’s top side.
“Wallace and Soward are teaching me a lot,” he said.
“They’ve already said on our days off that they’ll help me with my kicking, they’ve really taken me under their wing.”
With a blossoming career on show at the Tigers these last few seasons, many supporters were puzzled as to why the joint venture club let go such a talented rising star.
“I played just one game of NSW Cup last year but I didn’t get another,” he said.
“I don’t think the Tigers really liked me, I thought I had one of my best games playing NSW Cup but I think that was during the time when I told them I was leaving the following year. I don’t know if they kicked up a stink or what not, but they always had their favourites.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UI-IwZm8hg
Clearly a little disenchanted with the Tigers, Martin saw an opportunity at the Panthers to boost his chances of playing first grade.
“Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses were always going to be there a long time, they’ve invested too much money into them to go chuck the new guy in,” he said.
“The Tigers were pretty good in the end and understood that I needed to go. Hopefully I made the right choice about coming to Penrith.”
With an aging halves pairing heading towards the end of their careers, it’s hotly tipped that Martin and Matt Moylan could one day steer the Panthers into the next generation.
Nathan Taylor
Nathan Taylor is the Weekender's Deputy Editor and Senior Sports Writer. He also compiles the weekly Chatter on the Box TV column. Nathan is an award-winning journalist, who has worked at the Weekender for a decade.