Martin injuries force him out of Kangaroos
Shoulder and rib injuries have ruled Westpac NSW Blues star Liam Martin out of the Australian team for the upcoming Pacific Championships.
The Clive Churchill Medallist, from the Penrith Panthers’ 14-6 win over Melbourne Storm in the NRL Grand Final, has been plagued by a couple of injuries towards the end of the long club season.
A knee injury picked up on the same night to Panthers and Blues teammate Brian To’o has also forced his withdrawal from Samoa’s tour of England. Canberra Raiders back-rower and True Blue, Hudson Young, has been named as Martin’s replacement.
Fellow Blues and Panthers hero Jarome Luai, who was crucial in all four consecutive Panthers premierships and the 2024 State of Origin series win, will captain Samoa for their two Tests at Wigan on 27 October and Leeds on 2 November.
Samoa became the first Pacific nation to reach a World Cup final, when they faced Australia in 2022 with a line-up including Luai, To’o and Stephen Crichton. Crichton is not available for the England Tests as he’s getting married later this month.
NSW second-rower Haumole Olakau’atu has been chosen for Tonga in the Pacific Championships opener against Australia on Friday 18 October at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.
There are 12 NSW players named in the Kangaroos’ squad earlier this week, with the side to be led by Panthers co-captain Isaah Yeo. Young was a member of the Prime Minister’s XIII last year but has yet to make his Kangaroos debut.