LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
Liam Martin, the Penrith Panthers star, is set to elevate his performance in 2026 following a significant off-season revamp that has transformed his running, acceleration, and line-breaking abilities.
As reported by Wide World of Sports, the NSW Blues back-rower collaborated with Sydney biomechanics expert Brandan Jones during the summer. Together, they pinpointed areas of inefficiency in Martin's running mechanics that had been hindering his speed, despite his natural strength.
Jones noted that Martin was over-striding when accelerating, which disrupted his rhythm and impeded his ability to translate strength into real speed.
They also addressed issues related to foot placement and hip alignment during quick directional changes as part of their work.
The improvements have been remarkable, with Martin reportedly reducing his 20-metre sprint time from 3.2 seconds to just 2.8 seconds-an impressive advancement in the NRL that could significantly impact the Panthers' edge attack in the upcoming season.
Jones believes these modifications could elevate Martin's performance, indicating that the representative forward is now on track to become one of the league's most formidable attacking back-rowers.
This development comes at a crucial time for the Panthers, who heavily depend on Martin's aggression, line speed, and pressure on the edge.