Martin’s move to is North a winner

HE’S still adjusting to the balmy North Queensland winter but Te Maire Martin believes his midseason switch from the Panthers will help him realise his rugby league potential.

The 21-year-old is being touted as the long-term successor to champion halfback Johnathan Thurston after officially linking with the Cowboys until the end of the 2019 season.

Martin knocked back the Cowboys two years ago when he joined Penrith but said the chance serve an apprenticeship under the “best player in the world” was too good to pass up.

“It’s been a bit of a shock, but it’s something I wanted to do a long time ago and to finally get up here and settle all that has been good,” Martin said.

“When I left the Tigers, I came and had a look, wanting to come up here, but I just felt Penrith was the right place for me (at the time).

“I’ve moved out of there and now I see it as a fresh start and a big learning curve for me. Obviously there’s some of the best players in the world here.

“You ask anyone around and they know who Johnathan Thurston is so I want to try and learn as much as I can off him.”