A proud Gundagai product himself, Jones knew he had something on his hands watching a tough, but small, Temora kid called Liam Martin cut players twice in size in half at will.

Martin, who was superb in Penrith's grand final win over South Sydney on Sunday night, was almost destined to land at the Panthers.

He stayed with Hayden Simmons - the brother of 1991 premiership hero Royce - and his wife Michelle on work placement as a teenager.

Hayden asked Jones if Martin could trial for their SG Ball side, and the rest is history.

"Hayden said 'I've got a young fella doing some work experience for me', so I decked him out with some gear and asked if he wanted a trial," Jones said.

"I watched him play schoolboys at Gilgandra and offered him a chance to train with SG Ball.

"I said to (Martin's mother) Maxine that he'd have to travel down a couple of days a week to train and she said 'no, I'll be coming on Friday'.

"At training the coaches were saying 'have a look at this bloke', because he was buckling guys much bigger than him.

"It's a hard job sometimes, you don't always get it right but you take a punt on them. He was always a good trainer and jeez, he played above his weight right from the start.

"The rest comes from inside, their dedication and commitment and he had all that. I thought he was almost our best player last night."

It's been well documented the huge amount of kilometres Maxine has churned through travelling from Temora to Sydney and back, so Martin had the best chance of success.

Those trips began around the time when Liam's older brother Jarred, his self-confessed hero and mentor, took his own life in early 2014.

Jarred was a talented footballer in his own right, and it was their backyard games where he honed his trademark toughness and aggression.

There's a tree branch at their family farm at Barmedman they'd use for chin ups. Tractor tyres would be hauled across field with a rope, and kegs from the local pub filled with water.

Maxine is one of many parents who have been on the journey with a young Panther team which has come through the grades together.

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After last year's grand final defeat she was inside a sombre dressing room afterwards. On Sunday night she watched their chance at retribution alone at home as Penrith prevailed in Brisbane.

A recording of last year's grand final remains on her Foxtel, but she's never watched it.

This year's version is likely to get a much more strenuous workout.

"Going into the sheds after the game last year it was pure heartbreak, but this year I can just imagine how exciting being in the sheds would be," she said.

"Liam FaceTimed the family group chat from the sheds. He was over the moon, they've worked very hard for this those boys, they've been together a long time.

"The routine has always been we've had a meal before or after the game. Not seeing him after the game, I just miss him and I miss the other boys and the parents of the other players.

"I've totally avoided it (last year's grand final). I've still got it on Foxtel recorded, but I've totally avoided it.

"I always watch it through the eyes of how Liam plays, but today I'll go and watch last night's again a couple of times."

Maxine said Jarred's influence, as well as the Temora Dragons, on Martin's rise can't be underestimated.

The 24-year-old second rower played in all three State of Origin games for NSW this year, and now has a premiership ring in his third NRL season.

"He was four (when he started playing). Jarred didn't play until he was ten because I didn't want him to get hurt," Maxine, a teacher at West Wyalong High School, said.

"He was his mentor, a lot of Liam's journey is because Jarred has such belief in him. Jarred passed away almost eight years ago, but I think he was probably with me last night saying 'stop swearing Mum'.

"Jarred was so big so when they played in the yard, he had to tackle hard. Liam was a skinny, scrawny little thing growing up.

"He played as a hooker for most of his Temora games, then moved to second row once he got to the older groups.

"He didn't represent until the under-15s. I love to say to kids you don't have to get it from the start, you just have to work hard. Jarred's motto was always 'hard work beats talent'.

Maxine said she cherished the Dragons getting some recognition when Penrith's players were awarded their premiership rings, when it was announced which club each came from.

The family hasn't been able to get together since State of Origin I in Townsville - 117 days ago.

"I love the fact last night they mentioned the home clubs and I think they get $5000 each. The grassroots is where it's all about," she said.

Jones readily admits he's more willing to take a chance on a country kid because of his own bush roots.

"100 per cent, you nailed it. I come from a little town in Gundagai and it's in my blood," he said.

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