𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐂𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓: 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝-𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐋𝐢𝐚𝐦 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞𝐚 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐰𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐮𝐠𝐛𝐲 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐍𝐑𝐋 .𝐈𝐧 𝐚 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲…..𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞

SHOCKING ANNOUNCEMENT: Penrith Panthers forward Liam Martin and fiancée Chelsea Leary share deeply personal update

The NRL community has rallied around Penrith Panthers second-rower Liam Martin and his engaged partner Chelsea Leary following a brief but emotional statement released this week that revealed the couple are navigating challenging personal circumstances.

While details were deliberately kept private, the message struck a powerful chord across the Australian National Rugby League, prompting an outpouring of empathy, encouragement, and respect from fans, teammates, clubs, and commentators alike.

In their statement, Martin and Leary thanked supporters for the compassion already shown and asked for understanding and privacy as they take time to focus on what matters most.

“We’re incredibly grateful for the kindness and support we’ve received,” the couple shared. “We kindly ask for privacy as we work through this together.”

A wave of support across the NRL

Almost immediately, messages of support flooded social media. Fellow players, former teammates, and fans praised the couple’s strength and unity, reinforcing the NRL’s long-standing reputation as a tight-knit community that shows up when it counts.

Panthers officials also echoed those sentiments, reiterating their full backing of Martin and acknowledging the importance of prioritising wellbeing beyond the field.

More than football

Known for his toughness and relentless work ethic, Martin has built a reputation as one of the competition’s most uncompromising forwards. This moment, however, has reminded many that even the strongest athletes face real-life challenges away from the spotlight.

Supporters have largely respected the couple’s request for privacy, with many choosing to share simple messages of love, strength, and patience rather than speculation.

Looking ahead

For now, the focus remains on giving Liam Martin and Chelsea Leary the space they’ve asked for. As one fan summed it up online: “Footy can wait. People come first.