Former NZ Kiwis half Te Maire Martin has made an eye-catching return to rugby league, scoring twice on debut for Waikato Mana against Wellington Orcas in the National Competition at Huntly.
Martin, 26, made his debut for the Mana alongside brother Jesse, after suffering a brain bleed and retiring from the NRL in January 2020.
The former North Queensland Cowboys half played his last NRL game in April 2019 and has played for the Taharoa Steelers in the 2021 Waikato Rugby League competition.
But apparently free of any long-term side effects of the brain injury, Martin donned the No.6 jersey for Waikato Mana and stood out from the start, scoring twice and assisting a further two tries in his side's huge 54-16 win.
In the seventh minute, Martin scored Waikato's opener, beating the Wellington defence to cross over for a debut try, after a clever kick from front rower and captain Pawhare Brown.
Waikato then scored three more tries - all to winger Jayden Flood - before Martin was in the action again.
After beating his defender, Martin unselfishly passed to Flood outside him for the winger's fourth try, although he could have just as easily scored it himself, with no Orcas defenders in sight.
With the Mana 26-12 ahead at halftime, Martin was involved again after the break, assisting his side's seventh of the afternoon.
Receiving an offload inside the Wellington half, Martin ran the ball into the in-goal and again assisted a try that he could have - and should have - scored himself, this time for lock Taane Paki to give the Mana a 38-16 lead.
Waikato finished as comfortable victors, running in 10 tries.
After debuting in 2016, Martin played a total of 55 NRL games for Penrith Panthers and North Queensland Cowboys, and scored for the Cowboys in their 2017 Grand Final defeat to Melbourne Storm.
Martin also made four test appearances for the Kiwis, including the 2017 Rugby League World Cup in New Zealand, where he scored three tries.
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