PNG star Rhyse Martin excited by Leeds Rhinos’ on-field options

Martin scored the first two of Rhinos’ six tries – and booted five conversions – in Leeds’ 34-10 pre-season win over Bradford Bulls last Sunday.

He capped a strong performance with an assist in a touchdown by Liam Sutcliffe as Leeds’ right-edge, also including Harry Newman, proved hard to handle.

Rhinos’ main threat last year came on the left, where winger Ash Handley and centre Konrad Hurrell scored 36 tries between them.

Luke Gale is set to provide that side with plenty of ball in 2020, but Martin feels the opposite flank will also be tough for defences to resist once they hit their stride.

“We’ve put in a lot of work since we’ve been back,” Martin said. “I think it is just going to keep building, we are just getting those combinations and timing with each other.

“If we have got two strike sides it’s going to be hard to stop.

“We want to keep building within the team and I think we’ll go great.”

Rhinos have won both their warm-up games so far, including a 30-4 victory over Wakefield Trinity on Boxing Day when Martin did not play.

“I think, in these trials, we have shown some really positive signs,” he said.

“We are really looking forward to round one.”

On a personal note, he added: “I am feeling really good.

“I have come in a bit late this year for pre-season, but I think the group we’ve got made me fit in straight away and we are just ready to play footy now.

“Pre-season sometimes goes on too long so everyone’s ready to play.

“I am really excited, the body’s feeling good and I am looking forward to this season.”

Preparations continue away to Wigan Warriors on Sunday and Martin admitted that will be a big test.

“We had a very professional week leading into the Bradford game,” he said of Leeds’ camp in Spain. “Now it’s done, we’ve been able to look into what we did right and what we did wrong and build off that.

“At Wigan, we’ll both be playing full-strength teams so it’ll be a good indicator of where we’re at going into the season.”

Martin, who joined Rhinos from Canterbury Bulldogs in July last year, was given extra time off after captaining Papua New Guinea in their autumn Tests, including an historic win over Great Britain.

He admitted: “Coming in a bit late, you miss that camaraderie with the boys. When the boys are going through a bit of tough stuff at training you build a bond with the players.

“I have tried to not talk so much, just get my job done with the team and get their respect that way.”

A full house of more than 19,000 turned out for last weekend’s game at Emerald Headingley, a benefit for Rob Burrow as well as Jamie Jones-Buchanan’s testimonial.

And that gave Martin a taste of what to expect if Leeds do have a successful season.

He said: “Hopefully we can keep winning and keep getting those crowds every week.

“It was something special and I love playing at Headingley, it is always special. The crowds always give us that bit extra.

“They are an extra player essentially, so it is really good.

“I am so happy everyone got out to support Rob and Jamie.

“That was the main thing.

“And thanks to Bradford too.

“We would not have been able to do it without those guys. It was really special.”