Te Maire Martin says he was convinced his career in the NRL was “finished up” after a brain bleed forced the former Panther and Cowboy into premature retirement.
Martin, who last played in the NRL in April 2019, is set for a stunning return on Friday when the Broncos clash with the Bulldogs for the second time this season.
The 26-year-old has been named at fullback in place of the injured Tesi Niu as part of a reshuffled Broncos side.
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Martin’s inclusion comes despite previously retiring after 55 first grade games in early 2020 due to a brain bleed, while a member of the Cowboys.
Well before the Broncos handed him a lifeline earlier this season, Martin said his journey back to the NRL was a longshot after previously falling short in his bid to recover from the head injury.
“My last game against the Bulldogs [in April 2020], I started getting bad headaches that week,” Martin told 4BC’s Wide World of Sports radio.
“I got to game day and I was taking a few pain killers to brush it away, but after the game, I didn’t feel right.
“Flying back on the aeroplane, I don’t know if it was the air pressure, but I had a funny feeling.
“I saw the team doctor and got some scans done. That was it. They could see why I had a sore head, there was a little bleed at the back of the head.
“There was no training for the rest of the year… I went back to New Zealand and got looked after by my parents, I wasn’t in the best shape.
“Once I got back [from New Zealand] I started getting back into running and everything was going good until had to do the contact side of things, but I was no good at the time.
“The club at the time were really supportive. I was coming off contract and they kept a spot there for me, letting me take my time.
“I felt like I was letting them down carrying it on as far as I was. I came to the conclusion – me and my manager – to finish up at the time.
“I couldn’t tell the club when I would be ready to play.”
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Despite being saved a spot on the Cowboys list for 2020, Martin said he was convinced at the time he couldn’t play in the NRL again, forcing him to call time on his career.
“Going back to New Zealand the last two years, I’ve missed it, missed being in the team environment… you sort of miss it and don’t appreciate it as much until it’s gone,” Martin added.
“I wasn’t too sure [if I would ever come back]. At the time, I really did feel I was finished up.
“I couldn’t do anything to the level that I wanted to do it at. That’s why I made the decision, I couldn’t give anyone a clear answer.
“It took the whole of these last two years to heal and get to a position where I’m comfortable again to get my head into places that I’m not too comfortable with, but being confident it will be right.
“Going for scans and seeing the doctors helps a lot as well, I needed their clearance. They know more on that stuff than I do.”
https://omny.fm/shows/4bc-wide-world-of-sports/full-chat-te-maire-martin-makes-his-nrl-return
Martin still has a long way to go before he can cement his future in the NRL.
He’s on a development contract at the Broncos, with no guarantees beyond that.
“My manager rang up and asked if I was keen to give it another crack and how I was feeling,” he said.
“I played local footy last year where… he had seen a game on TV and asked if I was keen to come back in and give it a crack.
“I’m on a development contract this year to see how my body’s going and if the head is right, and so far it’s been good.
“I’m 100 per cent confident with that now.”
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