As he prepares to turn 33 next week in Las Vegas, Rhyse Martin knows he’s reached the stage of his career where every moment needs to be savoured – especially the big ones.
And when it comes to big moments, Thursday night’s World Club Challenge game against Brisbane Broncos is the biggest Hull KR ’s goal-kicking forward has ever had.
The Queensland-born Papua New Guinea international has enjoyed a terrific career and already boasted a Challenge Cup final win and Grand Final appearance with Leeds Rhinos on his CV, before adding the League Leaders’ Shield and Grand Final victories with KR, after missing the Wembley final through injury.
“Winning the Super League trophy kind of justified every sacrifice and moving over here,” Martin tells Hull Live, as he reflects on what’s been achieved and what lies ahead.
“This is definitely like the Grand Final, for sure. It is a big, big occasion for the city and for the club as probably the biggest game for the club.
“For me, this is probably number one I guess. There are not many people who get to say that they’ve won a World Club Challenge. I think to walk away from the stadium as the best team in world, that’s not going to be beaten I don’t think. After 2025, after winning the treble, I think a win in this game would be up there as number one for me.”
Martin will start for the Robins against the NRL champions, with the size of the task ahead not lost on the former Bulldogs player. A sold out MKM Stadium will welcome the best from the northern and southern hemispheres, with Martin excited by the prospect of what should be a fevered atmosphere inside the stadium.
Knowing full well the noise Rovers supporters can create at the MKM when they have just one stand on derby day, the KR takeover of the MKM promises to be a special sight. Martin hopes his team-mates can now do their part to ensure it’s a spectacle on and off the pitch, one which nobody forgets.
“I think it’s exciting for the city, but it’s exciting for our fans. Our fans are brilliant!” adds Martin.
“They prove that week in and week out. They turn up, they sell our stadium out every other week for us. And yeah, hopefully we can return the favour for them again
“This is exciting for the city of Hull too. Usually you go to Manchester for the big game or you go to London for the big games, but to have it here in our backyard is special. So I’m looking forward to seeing all the red and whites there, but there are going to be a lot of neutral fans as well and it is a great look and a great spectacle for British rugby league.”
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