Prolific point-scorer Rhyse Martin has bid an emotional farewell to Leeds Rhinos, addressing the club’s fans as his time with the team comes to a close.
The 31-year-old second-rower played his final game for Leeds in their 26-16 defeat at Hull KR, the club he will join on a two-year contract ahead of the next season. In his final appearance, Martin contributed a try and two goals, despite suffering a bad cut above his eye. Reflecting on his departure, he admitted it will take time for the reality of leaving the Rhinos to sink in.
During his six seasons at Leeds, Martin experienced challenging periods but leaves with fond memories, including a Challenge Cup winner’s medal from their 2020 Wembley victory over Salford Red Devils and a Grand Final appearance two years ago. He has grown hugely popular with the Rhinos’ supporters, and the feeling is mutual.
“The fans have been behind me since I arrived,” Martin said, reflecting on his time with the club. “They’ve always supported me, and I’ve seen so many familiar faces over the past six years, turning up every week—even when times were tough.”
“They’re always there to support the boys, and the team needs that,” Martin continued. “It hasn’t always been easy to be a fan over the past couple of years, but their backing is essential. I want to thank everyone who showed me love and stuck by me during my time at the club.”
When Martin arrived at Leeds Rhinos from Canterbury Bulldogs in 2019, he was relatively unknown, but he leaves as one of the club’s finest overseas recruits. His 2024 season was his best yet, featuring in all 28 of the Rhinos’ competitive games, marking his second consecutive season without missing a match. He was also a prolific kicker, with only Salford’s Marc Sneyd (97) kicking more goals in the Betfred Super League this year. Martin finished as the second-highest points scorer in the competition with 214, just two points behind his future Hull KR teammate, Mikey Lewis.
His outstanding form earned him a place in the Super League Dream Team, and he was named Rhinos fans’ Player of the Year. As captain of Papua New Guinea, Martin also leaves behind a remarkable legacy at Leeds, becoming the 13th highest points scorer in the club’s history with 1,040 points from 40 tries and 440 goals across 123 appearances. Since Leeds’ founding in 1890, only 14 players have surpassed 1,000 points for the club.
Rhyse Martin cemented his place in Leeds Rhinos’ history earlier this month when he landed 13 kicks from as many attempts against Hull FC, equalling Iestyn Harris’ Super League record for goals in a game. This remarkable achievement came just five days after Martin scored 20 of Leeds’ points, including a hat-trick of tries, in a dramatic 21-20 extra-time win over the London Broncos.
Reflecting on his time at the club, Martin said, “It has been one of the best periods of my career. A lot has happened, not just in rugby league but also personally—family and friendships I’ve built here, connections I hope to keep for the rest of my life.
“I had my kids while at this club, and it’s difficult to process everything right now, but I’ve loved my time at Leeds. I gave my all every time I played, and being at Leeds has been something truly special to me.”
Leave a Reply