Martin signs 2-year deal with Hull KR

PNG Kumuls and Leeds Rhinos veteran Rhyse Martin has inked a 2-year deal with Hull Kingston Rovers starting next year.

Martin will depart Rhinos at end of this year’s playing window after spending 6 seasons with the club since joining Betfred Super League Championships in 2019.

Hull KR revealed the signing on Wednesday via their website with the PNG international agreeing to join the club for 2025-2027 campaign.

The Rhino no.1452 who has a decorated super league career, made 128 appearances for the club, scoring 36 tries and converting 421 goals.

Hull KR coach Willie Peters said Martin will add depth to their forwards department as the team looks to strengthen its roster for next season.

‘‘We’re really pleased to sign Rhyse (Martin). We identified back-row as an area in which we needed more depth and I have no doubt Rhyse will provide that through his experience and knowledge of the position,” Peters said.

‘’Rhyse is an 80 % plus goal kicker and a highly skilled backrower who will add another dimension to the way we attack next season. We look forward to Rhyse and his family joining the club in 2025.’’

The 31-year-old played a pivotal role in 2020 where he captained the club to Challenge Cup premiership, earning promotion into England’s top-flight competition.

In 2022, the centre-cum-forward equaled Mason Lino’s Super League record of consecutive goal kicks without missing with 36. He led the Rhinos to grand final in the same year where they lost to Saint
Helens, 12-24.

The former Canterbury Bulldog has an impressive goal-kicking record of 80.89 per cent in Super League, having jolted 381 from 471. In the 2024 season for Leeds, Martin has recorded 69 from 85, giving him an
overall percentage of 81.17.

Speaking on the move to Hull KR in 2025, Rhyse Martin said; “I’m excited to join Hull KR next season and get over there. After speaking to Willie (Peters), I was excited by our conversations.

“Those chats and the performances Hull KR are putting in made the decision on the footy side a lot easier.
“I want to play the best I can for Hull KR and do what’s best for the team. Then the individual aspects of
my game will progress along with that when the team is performing well,” Martin said.

The Kumul no.262 captained PNG in the 2021 Rugby League World Cup in which the Stanley Tepend- coached side bowed out of quarterfinals.

A regular face in representative footy, the Rhinos powerhouse became the most capped PNG Kumuls player with a record of 17 games for Papua New Guinea last year during the NRL Pacific Bowl
Championships.

Martin’s goal-kicking ace contributed significantly to PNG’s bowl victory over Fiji in Port Moresby.

“It’s awesome (the club’s connection with Papua New Guinea). The history between Hull KR and Stanley Gene, John Okul and Makali Aizue was a big part of paving the way for players like me now,” Martin said
of the relationship between Hull KR and PNG players.

“A lot of Papua New Guineans know who Hull KR are and hopefully at the end of the season I’ll get to represent Papua New Guinea again in the Pacific Bowl. I’m excited to be part of that story and put my
stamp on the next chapter of that.