In his final Tasman rugby season 10 years ago, sharpshooter Marty Banks talked about his eventual coaching aspirations.
Now the 40-match Mako playmaker is stepping up his efforts to see whether he has what it takes to make a career in the professional coaching ranks.
The former Waimea Old Boys first five won a Dunedin senior club title as a defence coach with Green Island in his rookie year in 2024, but now wants to test himself in the much tougher Auckland market. North Harbour to be precise, and he is returning in a coaching role to the Takapuna club which he played for 15 years ago.
“I was struggling to break into the Canterbury environment as there was so much depth. So I headed to Auckland, got a job with Jetts Fitness and joined Takapuna,” recalls Marty, before teeing off to play golf in Rangiora.
He was hoping to put some weight on his frame, but contracted glandular fever.
“I lost 10 or 15kgs and only played about half a dozen games for Takapuna.”
He had actually hoped to represent North Harbour but the then assistant coach Jeff Wilson wasn’t interested in the Reefton-born utility back.
The record shows Jeff was a better player and broadcaster than coach.
Through his Canterbury contacts, Marty then got the chance to play in Russia and the Legend of Marty Banks began.
On his return and southern success, Harbour did actually approach him, but was too late as Marty’s potential had been recognised by the Tasman Rugby Union.
“In my final year with the Mako in 2016, management talked about me maybe returning in the coaching ranks but moving further north now offers more options,” confirms Marty, who was a points-scoring machine during his four years in Nelson.
With Marty’s wife Michelle returning to Auckland to resume her sports reporting and presenting role with TVNZ, the former Hurricane and Highlander was keen to take the next step in his career.
The couple had kept their house in Onehunga, married in October and Michelle wanted to be closer to her family in the North Island.
“Logistically, having to travel to the North Shore for training may not be the smartest move, but I think it is the best one,” declares Marty.
The “legend” will be working with a local legend, Takapuna director of coaching Paul ‘Rat’ Feeney, who played over 100 games for the club. The fullback was a North Harbour original in 1985 and has been a professional coach for more than 30 years. He coached the Auckland NPC team for three years, became an assistant with the Blues Super Rugby side and then spent three seasons with the Stormers in South Africa.
“I am hoping Rat will tell me at the end of the season whether I have a future in coaching. I have ambitions to coach at a higher level,” declares Marty.
Unlike his former Mako teammate Tom Marshall, the 36-year-old didn’t think he could transition into the coaching ranks straight after his playing days.
“I was a bit of a larrikin off the field and trying to tell my mates what to do might have been tough.”
While Takapuna is one of New Zealand’s best known rugby clubs, it has only won the North Harbour title once in the past 16 years.
So Marty knows it’s a big challenge, but if he makes the right impression he is perfectly placed for NPC promotion. The assistant coach has ruled out any thought of returning to playing at Takapuna as well.
“I have only just recovered from a serious groin injury. It took two years after I blew my abductors to bits.”
