Martin injury rocks spine stocks
Te Maire is set for a 12-week stint on the sidelines.
The Warriors are dealing with another setback to their spine and utility depth after Te Maire Martin was revealed to have broken the fibula in his right leg during Sunday’s All Stars clash.
Playing halfback for Māori All Stars, Martin was helped off 25 minutes in the Hamilton-hosted encounter following a friendly fire incident. Briton Nikora’s knee collided with Martin’s leg - and now the latter will require surgery.
The club has reported a return date of Round 11-12.
Martin broke the fibula in his left leg in 2023, missing almost five months of football before returning on the eve of the finals.
It’s a further blow to the Warriors’ halves stocks with Luke Metcalf not expected to return from an ACL injury before Round 7. Further muddying the waters, incumbent five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita - who missed just one game in 2025 - was not named in either trial team as he rehabs a calf complaint.
If CHT does not recover in time for the Warriors’ Round 1 encounter against Sydney Roosters on March 6, Martin would have been the obvious choice to come into the halves to partner Tanah Boyd.
Luke Hanson could be in line for an NRL debut in a fortnight’s time, though he and Boyd will be eager for a better showing opposite the Dolphins’ classy Test duo of Kodi Nikorima and Isaiya Katoa in Friday’s trial at Leichhardt Oval. Hanson and Boyd were patchy at best in Napier against Manly, outshone by unheralded Sea Eagles duo Joey Walsh and Onitoni Large.
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is a No.6 option, having lined up there for Māori All Stars for the second year in a row on the weekend - as well as in a famous Magic Round win over Penrith in 2024. Taine Tuaupiki (the match-winning No.1 in that defeat of the Panthers) boasts the skillset to fill in at five-eighth but would be more likely to come in at fullback to allow CNK to shift to pivot. Australian-bred next-gen stars Jett Cleary and Jye Linnane were not included in either NRL trial squad.
Assuming Harris-Tavita is fit for Round 1, Martin’s injury has more immediate ramifications for the bench utility and dummy-half relief roles.
The veteran made 15 of his 17 NRL appearances in 2025 as an interchange, predominantly coming on at hooker but also filling gaps at fullback, centre and in the halves. Martin also received a Kiwis recall on the bench after a seven-year international absence during the Pacific Championships.
The injury dramatically increases the prospects of second-string hooker Sam Healey playing a prominent interchange role, while Andrew Webster may opt for his next-drop half and outside-back to fill up the six-man bench come Round 1. Tuaupiki’s ability to cover fullback and wing reliably make him an attractive option in an area of modest depth for the club at present.
Elsewhere on the Warriors’ injury report, reigning Simon Mannering Medal winner Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (hamstring), under-pressure forward Marata Niukore (calf) and wing recruit Alofiana Khan-Pereira are all slated to be available for Round 1.
Mitch Barnett and Linnane (both ACLs) are listed for an early rounds return, while Rocco Berry (shoulder) will be sidelined until mid-season.