Tyson Martin

Early career

Martin, born in Cairns, grew up in Proserpine and played his first junior rugby league for the Proserpine Brahmans. Martin then returned to Cairns to play for Cairns Brothers. While playing for Brothers, he was recruited to play in the inaugural Toyota Cup season for the North Queensland Cowboys. His younger brother, Rhyse, plays for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.

North Queensland Cowboys

Martin played 18 games for the Cowboys Toyota Cup side in 2008, playing at a number of different positions during the year, including centre, five-eighth, halfback, second row and lock. In 2009, his final year of Toyota Cup eligibility, he played 22 games in the under 20's, but still couldn't cement a starting spot in the side. Martin was not offered a contract by the Cowboys for 2010.

He was thrown a lifeline by the Mackay Cutters in the Queensland Cup and signed with them for the 2010 season. Martin was a stand out player for the Cutters in 2010 and 2011. His good form was rewarded with a first grade contract with the Cowboys for 2012.

Martin trained with the Cowboys first grade squad in 2012 and was named on an extended bench to face the Parramatta Eels in round 3, but was omitted before the game. While playing for the Cutters, Martin tore his anterior cruciate ligament and was ruled out for the rest of the 2012 season.

Representative career

In 2009, Martin made his international debut off the bench for Papua New Guinea against the Australian PM's XIII. He came up against Cowboys first graders Johnathan Thurston, Luke O'Donnell and Matthew Scott in the 42-18 loss.

Later in 2009, he played both games off the bench in Papua New Guinea's successful Pacific Cup campaign.

In 2015, Tyson played for Papua New Guinea in their inaugural Melanesian Cup test match against Fiji.

He is eligible for the Kumuls due to his Papua New Guinean father.