Stephen Crichton knows a thing or two about Liam Martin having played alongside the tough-as-teak back-rower for both the Penrith Panthers and Westpac NSW Blues and he maintains he’s one of the best in the business when it comes to putting an opponent on his backside with a big hit.
Martin was one of the standout performers for the Blues in the Game One loss in Sydney and his bellringer on Queensland lock J’maine Hopgood brought the parochial Sydney crowd to its feet.
“He’s probably one of the best out there right now and that’s the kind of confidence he gives the team,” Crichton said.
“Just those little effort areas, he’s probably the best at kick-chasing as well in the back row, just doing so much work but then doing the extra, sprinting down there and leading the team just motivates the boys around him.
“Those little effort areas are definitely going to motivate the boys to go out there and not just let him do it by himself, but the boys fall in behind him.”
Martin only performed light duties for the Blues at their first training session in the Blue Mountains on Wednesday, but is expected to take part in the session on Thursday. The Blues back-rower is coping with a turf toe injury and his training load is being managed accordingly.
But it doesn’t sound like everyone got the memo.
“I didn’t even know why he was sitting down, I was taking the mickey out of him that he wasn’t going to train, and he ended up not training so I feel bad now,” Crichton said, laughing.
