Martin says it’s his time to stand up
COWBOYS recruit Te Maire Martin has given a frank assessment of his form, claiming he is not doing enough to support the team’s leaders.
The former Keebra Park student, who joined North Queensland mid-season, has now played six games for his new club, all in the halves.
But with the Cowboys just hanging on to a top-eight spot, the young playmaker is determined to do more in coming weeks to ensure his side is playing football come September.
While it has been difficult for him to create new combinations and to settle in an ever-changing side given the number of injuries the Cowboys have faced, he said the club needs people to stand up as leaders and he does not think he has done that.
“You try to (take on a leadership role),” Martin said.
“I think (Michael Morgan) is really trying hard but I don’t think I’m offering enough support for him. I know (Lachlan) Cootey talks a lot and organises as well.
“It’s just a communication thing that I need to pick up.
“I’m not too sure why (it’s happened). You do grow and get confident with it.
“(On Saturday) I took a few opportunities but I know I can do more. It’s choosing to do it at the right times and fitting in and getting used to it.
“I’ll sit down with (Paul) Greeny and see what he thinks about it.”
Despite Martin’s concerns about the role he has played since joining the Cowboys, there is no doubt he has fit in well with the side.
His growing combination with Morgan was again on display in Saturday’s loss to the Sharks, when Martin pounced
on a grubber from his halves partner to score the Cowboys’ first try of the night.
With meetings against the Tigers and Broncos awaiting the Cowboys, Martin said it would also be good to get the likes of Gavin Cooper and Antonio Winterstein back in the side, especially as the duo play on the same edge as him.
He said he hoped to strengthen his combinations and, in turn, find that leadership.
“I’ve never seen so many injuries before and it’s most of the experienced players,” he said.
“It really hurts in these (close) games. We were lacking a bit of experience to keep us in the grind.
“You really try to grow combinations with your edge and I thought we were really getting somewhere but (Cooper and Winterstein) got injured. It would be good to have them back.”