Rhyse Martin has no regrets leaving Leeds for Hull KR
Martin could hardly have timed his recovery better having returned for last week's win over Wakefield, and is now in line to feature against the Rhinos, for whom he made 132 appearances and amassed over 1000 points.
Martin told the PA news agency: 'Coming to the club to try and add something to the team, it was something I definitely didn't want to happen. I wanted to be on the field showing what I can do for this team. But I'm back now and I get another chance to earn the respect of my team-mates.
'For me it just felt like time to make a change and take up a new challenge, where I've had to start again. I think when you're in that sort of position it brings the best of you as a player. When you take up a new challenge you find out what you're made of and how tough you are.'
Martin's Rhinos career always looked likely to come to a close as they headed towards a second consecutive season without a play-off berth, and for a time he looked likely to return to Australia before Willie Peters stepped in to add the cool goal-kicker – who jointly holds the world record for 41 consecutive successful kicks – to his talent pool.
The departure of former head coach Rohan Smith in June added to the uncertainty at Headingley, and with his replacement Brad Arthur still far from certain of his long-term plans, Martin said the situation confirmed his decision to move elsewhere.
Going through the 'horrible' experience of watching Rovers' Challenge Cup win over Warrington from the sidelines has only served to confirm his desire to win more with Rovers, and a win over the Rhinos, one of the biggest contenders for a top-two slot, would be a big step in the right direction.
'My time at Rhinos was good but I was thinking about the next couple of years,' added Martin. 'I think they're in a position where they're not sure where they're going with their head coach, whereas I knew at Rovers there was stability and they were pushing for silverware, so that really made the decision a lot easier.'
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Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Six Rangers rights and wrongs from Russell Martin debut as Bajrami thrives but highwire act teeters on the brink
It was a far more encouraging second half showing but there are some aspects Rangers fans won't want to see again this season When Russell Martin named his first ever Rangers team for Sunday's friendly with Club Brugge - Ibrox punters had plenty of questions. But by the end of 90 minutes against the Belgians, which ended in a 2-2 draw, at least some of them were answered. It was a mixed bag for the new Gers gaffer at the weekend. After a ropey start which saw them go two goals down after 14 minutes, Martin 's men showed character to fight back. Goals from Mo Diomande and young Findlay Curtis gave the fans a bit of optimism ahead of the new campaign. It's still far too early to judge Martin or his side, especially with plenty of new signings still to come through the door. But with a Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos on July 22, the manager's got work to do. Sunday's game provided an insight into how he wants Rangers to play, who might surprise him - and who is surplus to requirements. Here, Record Sport looks at what went right and wrong for Martin in his Ibrox dug-out debut: RIGHT The comeback When Club Brugge scored their second goal to go 2-0 up after just 14 minutes, it looked like it could get seriously messy. The Belgians, who are a Champions League side, looked in the mood to cause some damage, while Rangers looked lost. If Martin's new boys didn't know about the expectations and demands here, being booed off at half-time in a bounce game would have made it abundantly clear. At that point, Gers could have gone into their shell and accepted a heavy defeat. After all, it was their first match after just two weeks' training under their new boss. But credit to them. The resilience, determination and personality they showed in the second half will have pleased the manager. Martin will have learned a lot about the mentality of certain players who - friendly or not - showed up in the second half to ensure Rangers didn't lose the game. And that will give him something positive to build on going forward. Plenty of Rangers fans might have thought the Albanian would be a player Martin might look to sell in this window. The 26-year-old didn't set the heather on fire last term after being signed for £3 million by ex-gaffer Philippe Clement. Too often, Bajrami looked laboured, dis-interested and not suited to Scottish football. But his performance off the bench on Sunday offered a bit of hope that he might actually have a future at Rangers. In the second half, he was the catalyst for a far better, more energetic display. When Bajrami arrived in Glasgow last summer, he'd barely had a pre-season after playing at Euro 2024 and then returning to Italian club Sassuolo knowing he was being sold. But here, he looked fitter and fresher. His technical ability has never been in doubt and maybe in Martin's system, Bajrami can flourish. He's got plenty of competition in the shape of new boys like Joe Rothwell, Lyall Cameron and Thelo Aasgaard - but he did himself no harm against Brugge. James Tavernier at centre-half There's so much speculation over what the Rangers captain's role will be under Martin this season after the arrival of right-back Max Aarons from Bournemouth. Will he become a bit-part player, only used in certain games? Will he be pushed further forward? But Sunday might just have given a glimpse of where Tavernier could be utilised at certain times in the campaign. When he was introduced at half-time as a centre-back, he gave his team a lift and impressed in the position. Suddenly, Rangers looked like they had someone at the back who actually knew what they were doing. He galvanised his team-mates and it was no coincidence that Aarons looked far more comfortable with Tavernier by his side. Martin has already added Manny Fernandez in that position. Conor Coady and Nasser Djiga could be next. And don't forget John Souttar who is on his way back. But if Martin needs cover - or if he goes with a back three in games - Tavernier has proved he can do a job there. WRONG The high press No-one expected Rangers players to be adept in Martin's style this early, especially after just two weeks' training. But right from the off on Sunday, you could see how high a defensive line he wants to deploy at Ibrox. Martin demands that his side go after opposition teams in their own half to win the ball back, with aggression and intensity. But after the first 10 minutes against Club Brugge, when they went a goal down, the set-up became ragged and disjointed. Martin said himself that his players got 'caught in-between' pressing and sitting off. Then, when Brugge broke on them he was annoyed that they weren't clever enough to commit a foul and stop their attacks. Occasionally, you could even see players slipping into their old habits of last season. If Martin is going to adopt those tactics, every player has to be on the same page. Otherwise, it looks a mess and you get caught out defensively because you've committed too many players forward without regaining possession. In the second half, they got some joy by hunting down a Brugge mistake which resulted in Diomande's goal. But Martin will know there's lots of work to do if they're going to master it. Central defence With Manny Fernandez just in the door, and Ben Davies and John Souttar injured - Martin didn't have too many options at the back on Sunday. That meant he was forced to go with a pairing of Leon King and Robin Propper - and it just didn't work. Both players' futures probably lie away from Ibrox and the club is expected to offload them in this window. Propper has been linked with a move back to Holland and with the likes of Conor Coady and Nasser Djiga being chased by Rangers, that might suit all parties. The Dutchman lacks pace and mobility, which is crucial in a Martin team that wants to defend high up the pitch. He had a hand in Brugge's first goal when he tried to step into midfield, lost the ball and left a huge gap behind him. King just hasn't fulfilled the potential he showed as a kid at Rangers when Europe's top clubs were after him. He might actually be better as a sitting midfielder but he has to go somewhere else and play games. After Sunday, Martin will know that neither of these two will be Gers starters this season. Kieran Dowell It's understandable that Martin would have been keen to give the midfielder a chance to shine after taking over at Ibrox. He will surely have heard good things about the 27-year-old from his old club Norwich City, where Dowell spent three years. He returned to Rangers after a successful loan stint at Birmingham in League One last term, so deserved an opportunity to impress his new manager. Dowell was deployed as one of Martin's attacking midfielders against Brugge and given licence to go and affect the game. But the truth is - just like much of his Ibrox career so far - he failed to make any sort of positive impression. In a poor first half on Sunday, Dowell was largely anonymous and struggled to impact proceedings. He looked unsure of himself in and around the box when Martin would have wanted to see him be decisive in creating chances or getting shots off. It hasn't worked for Dowell in Glasgow and with just a year left on his contract, it's hard to see a future for him at the club. With Joe Rothwell and Thelo Aasgaard coming into that area of the pitch at Rangers, his days are numbered. And Sunday's display did nothing to change that.
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Findlay Curtis turns Rangers dream into reality as Russell Martin's running man understands the assignment
Curtis was the only player to play the full 90 against Club Brugge as he embraces new boss' non negotiable with gusto His body was telling him he had nothing left in the tank. With just a minute to go at Ibrox on Sunday, young Findlay Curtis was the only Rangers player going to last the full 90. No-one could have said he hadn't put a shift in against Club Brugge. And in Russell Martin's first friendly, the kid had impressed his new gaffer. So when Nedim Bajrami broke through on goal, it would have been easy for Curtis just to let the Albanian get on with it. After all, a few minutes before, he was struggling to WALK as his legs cramped up. But his head told him there was one last, lung-bursting sprint left in him. Somehow, he summoned up the energy, not just to get in the box and offer himself to Bajrami. But to collect a pass, compose himself and produce a clinical finish beyond the Brugge keeper for a goal that earned Martin and Rangers a 2-2 draw. And in doing so, Curtis turned a dream of scoring for his boyhood club at Ibrox into reality. The 18-year-old will have had worse Sunday afternoons. The bounce game against Brugge might not matter too much in the grand scheme of things. But for Curtis it could be vital as he tries to make a lasting impression on his manager that - amidst an influx of new players - keeps him in Rangers' first-team squad for the foreseeable future. He's not the finished article, by any stretch. But when Martin arrived in Glasgow this summer, he revealed his first non-negotiable as a boss was that players had to run. Judging by Sunday's display, Curtis will do that all day for him. That's why he was the only sweat-filled blue shirt to play the entire game. And the youngster's resilience late on - as well as a tidy finish - will have pleased his manager no-end. Afterwards, Curtis could barely wipe the smile off his face. As he reflected on his performance, he said: 'I was buzzing with the goal, it's a dream come true for me to score at Ibrox. 'Nedim played the ball through to me and we'd been working on that for a full week. 'So I was just delighted that he set me up to score a goal. 'I just saw Nedim running and I thought, let's put the burners on and hopefully score, which I did. 'It was a sloppy start from us in the first half but the boys who came on in the second half brought a real energy - that's what the manager wanted. 'It was great to get the goal after a good second half performance. 'It's been intense under the gaffer. He wants us to do loads of runs and I think you saw that on Sunday. 'I'm just delighted to be part of it. 'I was the only one to play 90 minutes and I've been working on my running all week - and in the off-season. 'I wanted to come back the fittest I've been and I was pleased to get the 90 as well as a goal.' Martin has already added five new players to his ranks this summer, with Lyall Cameron, Max Aarons, Joe Rothwell, Manny Fernandez and Thelo Aasgaard all arriving at Ibrox. And by the time Rangers take on Panathinaikos in a Champions League qualifier on July 22, that number could go well into double figures. It's never easy at the best of times for a young player to make the breakthrough at Rangers. With Martin under pressure to win and deliver silverware, it might be even more difficult for academy graduates. But young Curtis has a steely resolve about him and he plans to work so hard, it will be impossible for the gaffer to ignore him. On whether he feels he'll get an opportunity this season, the teenager said: 'It's obviously the manager's decision who plays. All I can do is try and impress over the coming weeks and see what happens. 'It's early days but I really want to impress him. 'The ambition is to make the next step and become one of the first names on his team sheet. 'It's down to him but I just have to work hard in training. 'What are the differences under this manager? It's just more intense. 'He's brought a real energy into the training ground and he wants to play in his style. I think it's working so far. 'There's been a positive reaction from the players to what he's trying to achieve. 'All the boys are buzzing with it. It looks like the group is coming together, which is great to see. 'I'm happy wherever the manager plays me. Hopefully there's a bit of trust there from him that I can play off both wings, like I did on Sunday - or as a number 10. 'Wherever I'm playing on the pitch, I'll just give my all for this team.' Rangers will head to England this week for another week's training as they prepare for that Champions League crunch against the Greeks. More fresh faces will be on board by then and whether Curtis will get to play a part in a huge European tie remains to be seen. He's just hoping to do enough that IF he's called upon - Martin can have faith in him to do a job. Curtis said: 'We've still got two weeks before the Panathinaikos game so we'll just focus on our trip to St George's Park first. 'Do I feel capable of playing at that level? I suppose we'll just need to wait and see. 'Right now, it's about me impressing the manager and hopefully he can put that trust in me.'
STV News
3 hours ago
- STV News
Russell Martin remains quiet about Jamie Vardy link to Rangers
Russell Martin refused to be drawn on reports linking Rangers with a move for former England and Leicester striker Jamie Vardy. The 38-year-old forward, who saw a move to Genoa fall through, has now been heavily touted for a switch to Ibrox after leaving the Foxes at the end of last season. Recently-appointed Gers boss Martin remained coy but refused to dismiss the prospect, when asked after his side's 2-2 pre-season friendly draw at home to Club Brugge on Sunday if Vardy was a target. 'I think I've been asked about so many players,' he said. 'Some miles away, some on the money. So basically, I'm not going to give you an answer on that. But I guess you'll find out who's real and who's not in the next few weeks.' Rangers have already added five new players this summer and Martin, who has also been linked with defenders Conor Coady and Nasser Djiga, said he expects 'the squad to look different in a week's time'. 'I think we definitely want to do more, for sure,' he said. 'And also probably some players need to move on as well at some point because the squad's going to start looking very big and very heavy.' Rangers strikers Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane have been heavily linked with moves away in recent weeks. Dessers – top scorer last term – sat out Sunday's friendly due to injury but Martin indicated that he is keen to keep the Nigerian, who was the subject of a recent bid from AEK Athens. 'Cyriel's just been injured, he's had a bit of a niggly ankle, but he was here today,' said the manager. 'We turned down a bid a while ago for him. That was nowhere near the valuation of the football club. And he's been great, he's desperate to train. We had to give him some treatment this week on his ankle since he's been back. 'But I'm looking forward to working with him, so that's just nowhere near happening. And hopefully he will get on the training pitch this week, and he'll start enjoying it. But he's not kicked up one moment of fuss. He seems a really good professional.' It has been reported that Igamane, who has not been able to return to Scotland from his native Morocco this summer due to visa issues, is close to joining Lille. 'Hamza's just been a bit of a red tape,' explained Martin. 'He was due back this week with the other international players, he was at the airport and he didn't quite have the right visa, so I don't think it's anyone's fault. 'Things have changed since he last got his visa, so we've had to wait for him to get his new one, which he should have tomorrow all being well. So hopefully he will be with us this week at some point.' Asked about interest from Lille, Martin said: 'I haven't heard of any.' Pressed further on whether he expected to have Dessers and Igamane available for the first leg of the Champions League second qualifying round tie at home to Panathinaikos a fortnight on Tuesday, Martin said: 'That's two weeks away, so I can't plan for anything in football.' Martin, who also revealed that defender Clinton Nsiala is likely to leave on loan, reported that key centre-back is John Souttar is recovering well after undergoing hernia surgery this summer. 'The big man's good, he's trained the last few days,' he said. 'He's reacting really well to his operation and what's he had in training. He'll be back in properly this week and he'll play next weekend (in a closed-doors friendly in England).' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
