Te Maire Martin makes big step in recovery

Cowboys fullback Te Maire Martin is closing in on a return to the field after suffering a bleed on his brain sustained against Melbourne earlier in the year.

He had returned to his home in New Zealand to be with his family during his recovery.

The Kiwi had been suffering from headaches when exercising before scans revealed he had the injury and he has sat out indefinitely since then.

Showing great signs at recovering, the 23-year-old has started to take some light runs.

Cowboys club director Peter Parr was keen to stress that this was part of a long journey for Martin.

“His health has improved and he told me he has been for a couple of light jogs and felt okay. It is still very early stages.," he told the Townsville Bulletin. 

“We have said from the word go we will assess him throughout his recovery and it was going to be small steps. He has taken another couple of small steps, but there is still a lot to get through.

“[The bleed] has diminished somewhat, that is obviously a good sign.”