"I've been pretty loyal to Taradale for four seasons but I decided it was time to make things easier for Mum and Dad. There is a similar family feel at Tech as there was at Taradale and just as at Taradale the blokes who employ a lot of the players have plenty of input in the way the club is run, which is great.
"I'm also enjoying the opportunity to get game time at six and eight as well as my regular position of lock," Martin said.
A former Hawke's Bay under-18, 16, 14 and 13 rep, Martin, played for the Hawke's Bay Saracens last year. He hopes to make the Saracens again this year and the Magpies next year.
Martin has completed a bachelor of visual arts course and next year intends to teach art design and graphics at Napier Boys' High School, where he was a 1st XV player and deputy head boy in 2011.
Tech co-coach Steve Woods said Martin has been performing well for the Texans to date and he isn't surprised he is featuring on the McDonalds-Hawke's Bay Today Club Rugby Player of the Year leaderboard.
"Elijah is the cement in our forward pack," Woods said.
While the brothers always attempt to perform well in front of their parents, Martin said the hosts won't lack motivation today.
"We want to put on a good display because we are dedicating the match to the memory of one of our players who died last weekend," Martin said, referring to Tyler Lawson who took his own life.
"I played with Tyler during my Year 9 and 10 years before he moved to Australia. He was a very good surfer as well as a rugby player," Martin recalled.
"It's tough times for the team and we know Havelock are on the improve and they are a team you can never take for granted."
Although Tech are seventh on the Nash Cup table, Martin agreed there was enough talent and experience in the team to push for a semifinal spot in the Maddison Trophy competition.
Woods said his troops will be fired up in the wake of Lawson's death. All of the team went to Lawson's house on Wednesday night and because his funeral finished on Thursday, that night's training session was postponed until yesterday.
"It hit them hard."
He pointed out that one of last year's Magpies loosies, Joseph Penitito, spoke to the team in his capacity as a social work degree graduate this week. Penitito said while rugby players are perceived as tough people they do have emotions and there are times when they need help and they shouldn't be afraid to ask for it.
Providing Tech can control their emotion and maintain their discipline, they could pip the villagers by five points. In other encounters Tanalised Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports should beat Ansin & Monteith Hastings Rugby and Sports by six points at Tamatea Park, K9 Petfoods Clive should also return to the winning path with a 14-point win against Central at Waipukurau, MAC should sneak in by six against defending champions Carters Frame and Truss Taradale at Flaxmere Park, and unbeaten leaders HBI Insurance Brokers Napier Old Boys Marist are likely to win by 30 against winless Tamatea at Bill Mathewson Park.
