Cult hero Marty Banks searching for Super Rugby return
31-year-old Marty Banks is back in New Zealand and will suit up with Southland for the NPC – but the former Highlanders first five is eyeing a return to a bigger stage ahead of next season.
Banks was a regular in the Highlanders line-up from 2015 to 2017, and helped navigate the southern-most Super Rugby franchise to a first-ever title in his first year with the side. After the 2017 season had come to a close, he headed offshore and linked up with Benetton in Italy before returning in 2019 as a short-term injury replacement for the team.
If all goes to plan in the latter half of 2021, Banks could be back playing Super Rugby full-time next season.
Speaking to Stuff, Banks has revealed that he’s far from done with his professional rugby career and is hopeful that a solid season with the fast-improving Stags could pave the way for a return to the big leagues.
“Personally I’d love to get back to Super Rugby,” he said. “That means I’ve got to play really good rugby, and I’m aware of that.
“I’m 31, and I know in my mind I can compete at that level, but I’ve just got to play some decent footy for the Stags.”
Southland have struggled in recent years, failing to record a single win throughout the 2017 and 2018 Mitre 10 Cup seasons, and notching up just three victories in the two years either side. Last season, however, coach Dale McLeod led the Stags to three victories, and three further games were decided by seven or fewer points.
While injuries and player defections haven’t been kind to Southland in the offseason, McLeod has still managed to lure some talented players to the province for this year’s rebranded NPC, including Banks and former Chiefs Chiefs Solomon Alaimalo, Marty McKenzie and Lisati Milo-Harris.
Banks, who played 40 matches for Tasman before heading offshore, has decided to throw his lot in with the fast-improving Stag instead of opting to return to the province where he first made a name for himself in the hopes that the new environment will provide the 31-year-old with the challenge he needs to reignite his Super Rugby career.
“The fire still burns. The easy option would have been to call Tasman and try to go up there and sit on the bench, or sit in their wider group and do it that way. But as an individual, I want to compete and for me to compete I want to play.
The NPC is kicking off on Friday – the same weekend as the #AllBlacks' first major test of the year.
It's going to be another tough season, writes @realmikepulman.https://t.co/hn4wLCgFg3
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 6, 2021
“All I said to Dale on the phone is I want the opportunity to try to play my way into a starting spot. I don’t want it handed to me.”
“I think it’s good being under pressure because it doesn’t bring that content ness, each day I’ve got to be prepared to turn up and work and learn and grow in the environment.”
With New Zealand’s five Super Rugby sides already boasting plenty of first five options, such that the likes of Otere Black – who guided the Blues to a Super Rugby Trans-Tasman final this year – has had to head offshore.
As such, Banks will have his work cut out for him.
Southland kick off their 2021 campaign on Saturday against neighbours Otago, who were championship semi-finalists last season. They were also, however, one of the three teams that the Stags scored a victory over, with the little brothers of the Highlanders region recording a 32-15 win.
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments