Martin riding the roller-coaster as Panthers prepare to pounce
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The Panthers are eager to draw on history as they look to emerge from a challenging post-Origin period and commence their charge to the minor premiership.
Penrith's grip at the top of the ladder has loosened slightly in recent weeks and has shrunk to just two points as coach Ivan Cleary navigates the end of a gruelling State of Origin campaign for a number of his stars.
The Panthers claimed a gritty 24-18 win over the Eels last Thursday night and will travel to Mudgee to play the Raiders on Saturday.
Eels v Panthers - Round 21, 2026
Penrith sit atop the NRL ladder on 34 points, two points clear of the Roosters, with the Warriors and Sharks a further two points back with just six rounds left in the regular season.
It's a familiar position for the Panthers, who claimed the minor premiership in 2022 and 2023, and Martin is confident the experience will hold them in good stead throughout the coming months.
"We're finding our rhythm and we've got a good block coming up where we can work on building that connection again and hold the standards high at training," Martin told NRL.com
"There's [finals] experience with a few of us and there's a few who haven't really experienced it before so it's up to us to guide them. Every year is different, every year has its challenges and just because what we've done in the past has worked, we can't expect to rest on our laurels and expect it to happen.
"We've got to earn it again and focus on doing that at training and holding ourselves to a high standard."
Match: Panthers v Raiders
Round 22 -
home Team
Panthers
1st Position
away Team
Raiders
11th Position
Venue: Glen Willow Oval, Mudgee
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Saturday's clash with the Raiders at Glen Willow Oval provides Penrith with a chance to atone last year's defeat to Canberra at the same venue.
A Nathan Cleary field goal attempt clattered into the post, with Kaeo Weekes scoring a length of the field golden point try in a play quickly dubbed the 'Miracle of Mudgee'.
Martin was at the centre of the drama on that occasion but he's been forced to spend plenty of time watching from the sideline this season.
All the angles: A Mudgee miracle
The representative star has endured a frustrating run of injuries, with a calf strain delaying his start to the year before a knee injury kept him sidelined for six weeks midway through the season.
Martin concedes it took him some time to find his feet after returning in Round 13. The back-rower earned a NSW recall for the Origin decider and played a key role in the Blues' stunning victory.
Having had a frustrating year, Martin said the triumph has provided a big confidence boost leading into the finals.
"It was a bit of a roller coaster for a while there," Martin said. "After the knee the first couple of games back I was finding my groove and wasn't overly happy with my standard but I feel like I'm starting to build into it nicely.
"One thing with the knee was it gave the rest of the body a rest so I'm feeling good heading into the back end of the year so hopefully I can keep finding my groove and keep building."
While his immediate focus is Penrith's quest for a fifth title in six years, Martin also has one eye on earning Kangaroos selection for the end-of-season World Cup.
A mainstay in the Australian side since 2022, the forward missed last year's Ashes tour to be present for the birth of his first child.
Match Highlights: Australia v Samoa
Martin admits the decision came with mixed emotions but he's eager to make up for lost time later this year.
"It was very tough to miss the Ashes," Martin said. "Playing for Australia is the pinnacle and you want to play every opportunity you get but I had to put family first.
"As soon as my son was born, there was no question I had made the right decision. As tough as it was to miss out, I wouldn't have been anywhere else.
"The body's feeling good, there's no baby on the way this time so if I get the opportunity I'd love to represent Australia this year. Pulling on the green and gold is the pinnacle so I'll hopefully keep playing good footy and put myself in the frame."
