'Family comes first': Liam Martin withdraws from rep games to be by partner's side
Martin told the on Thursday he'll be staying home in Australia for the birth of his first child. 'We're due in October – I'm pretty excited – but it means I'll probably have to pull out of the Ashes,' Martin said. 'Given it's the first baby, I don't want to miss it. If it was in Australia, I'd definitely play, but given it's on the other side of the world, Chelsea could divorce me before we're even married.
Martin missed last year's Pacific Championships tournament due to a shoulder injury, but has been a walk-up starter for the Kangaroos whenever he's been available. He admitted he hadn't told anyone in the Kangaroos hierarchy because the national team is currently without a coach.
"I love pulling on that green and gold jersey, but family comes first, so I made the decision early on," he added. 'You hear the boys with kids speak about life having extra meaning after [having kids], and who you play the game for. It's been in the back of my mind this year how I'll need to try and leave a legacy for the family that they can be proud of.'
Making Martin's decision easier is the uncertainty surrounding the Ashes series. Mal Meninga was forced to step down as Kangaroos coach when he agreed to take on the Perth Bears job, and Brad Fittler withdrew from contention this week when he was thought to be the front-runner.
Fittler then made telling comments that nothing had been organised by ARL officials in terms of accommodation, training facilities and logistical issues, despite the tour being just three months away. Cameron Smith and Kevin Walters now appear to be in a two-horse race to become the next Kangaroos coach, although whispers have emerged that Wayne Bennett could get the job if the NRL breaks it's own rules.
The NRL and ARL Commission have always insisted a club or State of Origin coach can't hold the Kangaroos role because it doesn't allow for enough time and focus. But leading reporter Phil Rothfield revealed this week he believes that rule will be broken and Bennett will get the gig.
Rothfield said he thinks the Commission will allow Bennett to lead the Kangaroos in a caretaker capacity just for the Ashes series, before appointing a full-time coach after that. Speaking on NRL 360 on Wednesday night, fellow journalist James Hooper said: 'I think they need to get the best candidate in all seriousness, and if that means changing this outdated rule that we can't have a club coach anymore, so be it. I wouldn't have an issue if it was Wayne or Ricky (Stuart) or (Craig) Bellamy."
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Queensland State of Origin stars Harry Grant and Cameron Munster both said this week that Smith would do a great job. But the former Maroons and Kangaroos captain admitted he hadn't heard from anyone about the role.
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