Manly captain and Queanbeyan Blues juinor Jesse Martin ready for under-20s NRL grand final
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Jesse Martin grew up dreaming of wearing Canberra Raiders lime green on grand final day.
But the Queanbeyan Blues junior is set to arrive on rugby league’s biggest stage as the leader of a team everyone loves to hate.
Manly captain Martin will play in the junior grand final at ANZ Stadium in Sunday when the Sea Eagles clash against arch rivals Parramatta for the last under-20s title.
It’s fitting a hard-working lock with Canberra links will have a chance to lift the under-20s premiership trophy almost a decade after Shaun Fensom and the Raiders won the inaugural title.
Martin, Queanbeyan Blues junior, left the capital at the end of last year after failing to earn regular under-20s game time for the Raiders, but he fell on his feet at Manly and is soaking up a dream week.
Martin lives with Raiders legend, Clive Churchill Medallist and former Canberra coach David Furner in Sydney and drives more than an hour to get to Manly training every day.
The chance to guide Manly its first national youth competition premiership doubles as an opportunity to prove his doubters wrong and launch his professional career.
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“I am a little bit nervous, but that’s probably a good thing going into this sort of game,” Martin said.
“I came through the Canberra ranks and I had a few good players in front of me, so I probably wasn’t developing because I was stuck behind them.
“I wanted to grow and asked for a release. [Furner] said there was a place available at Manly and it’s the best thing I’ve ever done.
“I had the fire in the belly. I wasn’t angry, but it was good for a fresh start at Manly and now I’m really excited about the opportunity.”
Martin’s grand final dream almost came to a shattering end three weeks ago when he was suspended after a tackle went wrong.
He made his comeback in the preliminary final last weekend and has the job of leading the Sea Eagles into the last under-20s grand final before the competition is scrapped.
Martin was just 11 years old when Fensom led the Raiders to a thrilling extra-time under-20s triumph in 2008.
Fensom will be chasing a bigger prize when he plays for the North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL grand final hours after Martin attempts to follow his footsteps.
“I never thought I’d be in this situation when I was still in Canberra at the end of last year,” Martin said.
“A lot of stuff has happened this year, but it’s all been really exciting. It’s been great living to Dave and the rest of the Furner crew, they’ve really helped me.
“Dave does video with me outside Manly training to help me develop, I can’t say thanks enough.”
Furner and his family have taken Martin under their wing to help him adjust to life in Sydney.
Martin and Furner’s son Kyle are close mates and they joined Furner as a trio for pre-season boxing training to begin the transition.
Martin went to St Edmund’s College but switched to Erindale College and teamed up with Raiders winger Nick Cotric in the junior ranks.
Cotric was the NRL’s rookie of the year this season, and Martin hopes he can launch his own career.
He juggled rugby league and a carpentry apprenticeship last year, but is now delivering parcels around Sydney and playing for Manly.
“I know Manly is one of the club’s everyone likes to dislike, but I really love them,” Martin said.
“I reckon half of Canberra are going to be up for the game. I’ve got about 20 family and friends already who are going to come along.
“Nic Cotric is a freak and it was great to watch [Fensom]. I’m hoping this is a big day to show what I’ve got and I can’t want to get into it.”
UNDER-20s GRAND FINAL
Sunday: Manly Sea Eagles v Parramatta Eels at ANZ Stadium, 1.35pm.
Article source: http://smh.com.au/afl/richmond-tigers/afl-grand-final-2017-tigers-fans-don-temporary-tattoos-and-minimohawks-in-tribute-to-dustin-martin-20170928-gyqoii.html
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