Martin will hang up his boots at the end of the year
Hull KR’s Rhyse Martin with the Super League trophy at Old Trafford. SWPix.
Hull KR forward Rhyse Martin has made the decision to hang up his boots and retire at the end of the season.
The 33-year-old has enjoyed a nine-year career at the very top of the sport, with spells coming at Canterbury Bulldogs and Leeds Rhinos before spending the last two seasons of his career with the Robins.
However, he will be calling time on his career at the end of the year, after representing Papua New Guinea in this autumn’s World Cup.
He’ll be doing all he can to go out on a high between now and then and that starts on Saturday when KR take on Wigan Warriors at Wembley in the Challenge Cup final. Martin will also be hoping to help KR retain the Super League trophies they won last year, too, before heading down under to what he hopes will be a successful World Cup.
The goal-kicking forward’s career started in the New South Wales Cup in 2014 and he went on to spend the first few years of his career at that level with Newtown Jets, Townsville Blackhawks and Canterbury.
His NRL debut came in 2018 and he made 25 first grade appearances down under before joining Leeds in 2019.
Martin made 132 outings for the Rhinos and racked up over 1,000 points in blue and amber during his time at the club. The highlight of his time at Headingley was undoubtedly lifting the Challenge Cup in 2020 and he built on that by helping KR to the treble in his first season with the club.
Martin’s next steps remain unknown at this stage, but the back-rower will be looking to add to that trophy haul this weekend.
“Ever since I was a kid, I dreamed of playing professional rugby league and for it to be my life. I am so lucky and grateful that I have been able to have the career I’ve had,” Martin said in an emotional message.
“I walk away at the end of the season knowing that I have given everything for each club I’ve had the honour of representing and hope that I have left the jersey in a better place.
“I would like to thank all the coaches and staff who have helped me on my journey.
“To all of my teammates that I have played alongside, THANK YOU. I’ll leave the field with friendships for life.
“To all the fans at every club I have been a part of, I will miss running out in front of those full stadiums, and I will miss the energy you bring. Thank you.
“I want to thank my friends and my family who have been there from the very start.
“Lastly, I want to thank my wife, Vanessa, for being by my side through it all and my two beautiful kids, Matteo & Mya.
“I look forward to finishing the year strong for Hull KR and giving everything to the team. With it being a World Cup in 2026, it feels like the right time to hang up my boots representing my country at the end of the year.
“Thank you, rugby league.”
Hull KR chief executive Paul Lakin added: “Rhyse has been a great signing for us.
“He is someone I’ve often had chats to about future career opportunities.
“And I know he’ll do really well in his new career at the end of the season. For now, there’s so much more to play for this season.”