The Hull FC winger has gone from strength to strength this year – and is gearing up for Sunday’s battle.
The Hull derby needs no introduction; it’s one of the fiercest games in Super League, but come Sunday, there’s added meaning. For Hull KR, it’s potentially the change to wrap up the league leaders shield, and for Hull FC, it’s a crucial fixture to keep their play-off push alive.
For Lewis Martin, the competition’s leading scorer this season, it’s huge, and it’s a game that Hull, depleted or not with some big players out, have to win.
And the young winger, who has scored 29 tries in 27 appearances in all competitions this year, is ready to do just that – with the 20-year-old gearing up for his sixth derby affair since breaking into the Hull first team.
“It’s probably the biggest game of our season, and the outcome could decide our season, so that makes it massive,” Martin, speaking to the official Super League website, said. “I’m expecting an electric atmosphere, especially at Rovers’ ground. It’s probably the most hostile place in the league for any team to go to.
“And with it being a derby, it’s even more. It’s huge. Even just getting off the bus, you’re immediately greeted by the Rovers fans, but that just gives you the edge and determination to go and win.
“The boys are all looking forward to it. We might have people missing but we’ve got players ready to step up for the derby. We know how big it is. We lost to them [Hull KR] earlier on in the year and we’re ready to have another go at them. It’s going to be tough, but it’s an exciting one.”
And on Hull’s play-off push, Martin continued: “To make the six, we’ve just got to do what we’ve been doing all year – play as a team and keep that togetherness.
“We’ve got some key bodies out and we know we might not be able to push teams as much as we could if we had those players. So, we’ll need to find that spirit and a way to stay in the game and go set for set.
“It’s definitely going to be tough this weekend and so will the last two games, but we know we’ve got a strong bond within our group, and if we play our game like we know we can, then we give ourselves a good chance of winning.”
As for his own game, Martin has come on leaps and bounds, with 22 Super League tries to his name and seven more in the Challenge Cup. Notching up his 50th game for the Black and Whites last month, the young flyer is thriving, playing every minute of every game this year.
But going back to round one, he didn’t even know if he’d be in the team, with the winger scoring a hat-trick against York Acorn after coming off the bench in the club’s one and only pre-season game at Castleford Tigers.
“I still remember Round 1 like it was yesterday,” Martin said. “I didn’t know if I was going to be in the starting line-up, so it’s all been crazy and a bit of a whirlwind.
“I’ve loved it though, and I’m really enjoying my rugby at the minute. I’ve enjoyed every minute I’ve played so far, and I think I’ve really developed as a player.”
And as for the team, Martin added: “We’ve got a good mix of older lads and younger lads, and I think the older lads have really mentored us young boys. Their experience has really helped us to grow.
“I probably didn’t know what to expect at the start of this year. We were a completely new team, but after pre-season I felt really positive, and I knew we had a good group. The play-offs have always been the goal, and it’s still very possible.”