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'I'm not going anywhere': Martin dismisses rumours of immediate departure for Super League
Stephen Foote • April 9th, 2025 2:30 pm
Photo: Photosport
NZ Warriors half Te Maire Martin has quashed rumours of his imminent departure for the UK, adamant he intends on seeing out the remainder of his contract in Auckland.
Late last month, reports emerged from across the Tasman that Adrian Lam's Leigh Leopards had their sights set on Martin for an immediate move to England to fill the vacant quota spot - reserved for a non-federation trained or overseas player - on their roster.
The Tahāroa product has been consigned to NSW Cup so far this year, with coach Andrew Webster preferring to roll with Luke Metcalf and Chanel Harris-Tavita as his half options in an area of particular depth for the Warriors.
With his three-year contract expiring at the end of this season, Martin confirms he has been approached by rival clubs but plans on honouring his current deal to its fullest extent.
Beyond that, he's open to opportunities, wherever those may arise - even if it means temporarily foregoing his other two passions.
"I'm not going anywhere this year," Martin told Sport Nation's Running It Straight podcast.
"I've committed to the team for the rest of my contract so that's the rest of this year.
Te Maire Martin | Photo: Photosport
"Whatever pops up after that, if I have to move overseas, then I will. Ideally, I'd like to stay here but there's some teams that need some halves and if it comes to that, my partner and my family are open to moving back overseas.
"Everyone says, what about the hunting and fishing? But it'll always be there. I can always come back. I've got a good couple of years still in me and I'm really enjoying my footy. So I think I'll stick to playing footy for the next couple of years and see where it leaves me.
"But I'm committed to my contract this year and that's the end of that. I've had a few offers to go overseas, but I'm going to stick my contract out."
Despite his lack of gametime in the first-grade side, Martin has still been doing plenty of damage as part of the club's rampant NSW Cup team, a driving force behind the team's rise to the top of competition's standings.
It's the kind of demotion he admits a previous version of himself would have struggled to deal with.
But the 2025 edition, with the perspective afforded by a rollercoaster career that appeared as though it may have been permanently derailed by a brain injury six years ago, has been embracing the challenge.
A large part of that has been remaining injury-free, which has allowed him to be consistently on the pitch and find that all-important rhythm to his game.
"I'm at a point where I'm just really enjoying footy at the moment," Martin explains. "I used to get really nervous and the rest of it. Now I'm at a point where I just really enjoy game day.
"I'm just trying to stay ready so if any injuries do happen, hopefully they don't, but if they do happen I'm ready to step up.
"It's kind of hard working for a contract out of reserve grade, so you've got to try and still play your best. You get a lot of first-grade players that come back to NSW Cup and they sort of drop their lip. It's quite toxic and not really enjoyable to be around.
"I'm still having fun, so as long as I'm still hunting and fishing on the days off, I'm alright."
The 29-year-old says he already has the ball rolling with his planning for life after rugby league, which he hopes will incorporate his beloved life-long past times.
"I'm working on trying to set myself up for after 40. If I can be in that hunting and fishing space, on a TV show or whatever, that's what I'd like to do.
"I've had a few meetings and little things like that. It's probably why I'm so happy that everything's sort of going in a good direction."
Subscribe to the Running It Straight podcast here.
