Blink and you would have missed it.
Rhyse Martin caught the eye – albeit only briefly – when turning out for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs' ISP side in the club's Round 23 clash with the North Sydney Bears.
A 'walk on, walk off' appearance totalling four seconds, Martin had 'played' in his eighth Intrust Super Premiership NSW fixture – an all-important number heading into the competition's finals series.
Rhyse Martin's Important Four-Second Appearance
Making a name for himself in the NRL since since earning his debut in Round 9, Martin had featured in just one ISP match since that point – ironically, also against the Bears, in Round 14.
Under NSWRL rulings, NRL-regulars must feature in at least eight Intrust Super Premiership NSW matches to be eligible for finals selection.
Playing 23 games for the Bulldogs in the ISP in 2017, Martin had featured on just seven occasions for the reserves heading into Round 23 – making him ineligible to turn out for the Bulldogs in the ISP finals if he was not to figure in the competition again before the regular season's end.
While the Bulldogs were out of finals contention in the NRL, the side was well in the hunt for a top four finish in the ISP – and so fate would have it, Martin would play a starring role in the side's run to claim the 2018 NSW Premiership.
Despite losing their Finals Week One clash with the Penrith Panthers, the Bulldogs and Martin regrouped to win three consecutive finals matches to earn the premiers mantle.
A noted point scorer, Martin crossed for a decisive semi-final try against the Wyong Roos, before booting six goals from as many attempts in a two-point Preliminary Final victory over the Dragons.
The ever-present forward was rewarded for a stellar 2018 season in the form of a Intrust Super Premiership NSW title – the Bulldogs' first since 2011.
Bulldogs Celebrate Intrust Super Premiership Success
