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Penrith hitman Liam Martin\u2019s reputation continues to soar with some now labelling him the best back-rower in the game \u2013 and even opposition players agree.<\/p>\n
Martin was awarded the True Blue award at Monday night\u2019s Brad Fittler Medal, with Blues advisor and Penrith great Greg Alexander taking to the stage to describe the 26-year-old as the best in his position.<\/p>\n
Alexander said people would be quick to point out the Penrith bias, but he did not back away from those comments on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Viliame Kikau has long been regarded the standout edge forward in the game, and has been named Dally M back-rower of the year the past three seasons alongside Jeremiah Nanai, Isaiah Papali\u2019i and Tohu Harris. Gold Coast\u2019s David Fifita, Melbourne\u2019s Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Cronulla\u2019s Briton Nikora would all feature in the conversation.<\/p>\n
Martin will loom one of the biggest threats on either side of the ball when the premiers host the New Zealand Warriors on Saturday afternoon.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat I\u2019ve noticed about Liam is even if you\u2019re not a Penrith supporter, people enjoy watching him as a player,\u201d Alexander said.<\/p>\n
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Even his rivals cannot help but sing Liam Martin\u2019s praises.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Steven Siewert<\/cite><\/p>\n \u201cI hear that from other commentators and people in general. The Panthers have Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo and Dylan Edwards, but the one player people bring up the most when talking to me is Liam. People just love the way he plays.<\/p>\n \u201cPlayers improve with age and experience, and he\u2019s just kept improving to the point where he is now. It\u2019s always debatable when it comes to who is the best in the one position, but I think Liam is [the best].\u201d<\/p>\n Martin played down the praise and handed top billing to former Panther Kikau.<\/p>\n \u201cLook at the calibre of back-rowers out there, and while I know \u2018Kiks\u2019 had an ordinary year with injury, I still think he\u2019s the best back-rower in the game,\u201d Martin said.<\/p>\n For his part, Liam Martin believes former teammate Viliame Kikau remains the NRL\u2019s back-row benchmark.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty<\/cite><\/p>\n Cronulla star Nicho Hynes played with Martin in the NSW Origin team this year, and said it was hard to go past the kid from country NSW.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll always back Briton because I\u2019m his teammate, but if I had to pick a back-rower not in my team, it\u2019s Marto \u2013 he\u2019s the best back-rower in the comp I believe,\u201d Hynes said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s got so much mongrel and is the hungriest player I\u2019ve seen.<\/p>\n \u201cHe just goes after people. He\u2019s not scared to take anyone on, he never takes a backward step, he takes the tough carries, and will shoot out of the line [in defence]. He\u2019s the guy you want to play with.\u201d<\/p>\n Martin underwent a head injury assessment last weekend when he went low on Cowboys opposite Luciano Leilua and ended up with nine stitches in a cut above his right eye.<\/p>\n He was worried his mother Maxine might leave him with nine stitches above his left eye after he failed to thank her at the awards.<\/p>\n Brian To\u2019o won the main Brad Fittler Medal, but even he conceded he thought Martin would be given the prize. To\u2019o and Martin were among seven players who featured in all three Origin games for the Blues.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n