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Cult hero Marty Banks searching for Super Rugby return

Marty Banks

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.

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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.

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Dave Rennie and Michael Hooper spoke to the media ahead of their Bledisloe Cup clash with the All Blacks.

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    Dave Rennie and Michael Hooper spoke to the media ahead of their Bledisloe Cup clash with the All Blacks.

    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.

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    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.

    “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.”

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    “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.

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    JW 2 hours ago
    'I feel for the players': Jamie Joseph's reflection on falling short again

    Some great leadership quality from Big Jim, he facilitated for large parts then put the responsibility on himself at the end drive the team forward in the last desperate minutes. He also filled in for Withy extremely well, adding real strength to the maul.


    The Force have been playing very well this year indeed, and their stars did make a couple of key players, the main factor though is definitely what I reported in the previous article “

    Gotta say I’m really enjoying the Highlanders desperation in the last 10 minutes of games, maybe it’s just because theyre having to throw the kitchen sink at it again. Another massive effort to hold the opposition out just like in the Blues game. I’m sure the coach’s will be wanting a little more composure though as the play seems to far more hap hazard (really just the type of footy I like watching) than the picture they bring at the beggining of games.

    Again though they don’t have the refs to thank for anything, being down a man twenty more minutes than they should have been. Most importantly they were without one of they best attackers (not counting Tangitau’s early change) for the final push, with Nareki’s bin.

    Again, I can see where this team is trying to go, I hope they can get their this year as they certainly have the game to be a top four team if they click. They are munch of misfits when you look at it objectively though, they probably have the worst cohesion score of any SRP team. A few more wins, maybe a come from behind upset may be the best theey can hope to acheive this year.

    “. Like Jim I thought the defence stood up strongly for large parts, but they may just have some structural issues, where it’s just not paying off. They had Lawaqa on the wing all day, allowed the Force to make a dozen linebreaks, why? Both there attack and defence look a bit too fancy for me, why? Common Joseph, the youngest team with the least cohesion/most new guys, it look overly complicated.


    I hope it clicks. Manson in particular looked to be trying far too hard when he came on, what’s been said in his ear? Stick to you lane son and don’t make any mistakes, don’t lose the game for your team. Should be a comfortable win next week against Drua if they keep there heads up and come back stronger. Lasaqa might be best to come off the bench, would keep Jim at 12 but I’d like Tele’a to come back to the side, though TUJ hasn’t been bad and style might suit Drua more. Hopefully Renton or someone with some size is at 8 or 6, Lasaqa appears to be more an 8 actually, similar to Sititi and I wouldn’t mind if he was groomed behind him and Sotutu. Lennox I thought could make a good halfback but isn’t ready, I’d hope Arscott, Fakatava, or Pledger could return to the side. Other than Drua theyve got Cheifs twice, though the home game is the last of the round/season so potentially a gimme if the Chiefs repeat previous years tactics. The Crusaders and Moana at home are also very doable. Those four wins could see them crash into the top 6 still.

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