Te Maire Martin set for NRL return three years after bleed on brain

Three years after being diagnosed with a bleed on his brain, Te Maire Martin will make his return to the NRL this weekend.

The former New Zealand international will make his Brisbane Broncos debut against Canterbury Bulldogs on Friday night. He has been out of the game for three years after suffering a bleed on his brain.

Martin made a promising start to his rugby league career, making 55 NRL appearances for Penrith Panthers and North Queensland Cowboys between 2016-19 as well as playing four times for his native New Zealand.

The 26-year-old will make a stunning NRL comeback this weekend after passing a final medical clearance earlier this year.

Te Maire Martin: Everything feels good

Speaking to the Broncos website about his return, Martin said: “It’s been a long two and a half years to get my career back on track. When my scans came back giving me the all clear, I wanted to come back.

“You don’t realise how much you miss the game and the boys until you are out of the game for two or three years.

“I had a lot of scans and saw specialists. The only healing I could really do was rest. I got a job pushing sand in big machines sitting down all day. Just having a rest and no contact enabled it to heal. The specialists gave me the all clear last year to come back with the Broncos.

“I was very emotional to come back and I’m really enjoying it here at the Broncos.

“Everything feels good, even going to the change rooms, just the smell of the dressing room, it brings all the memories back. It’s been a long time out.’’

Martin will start at full-back for the Broncos when they host the Bulldogs at Suncorp Stadium on Friday.

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