Marty's moves are 'all in the family' [Marlborough Express]
In the blood: Blenheim cafe owner Clint Banks is super proud of his brother, Makos star Marty Banks (Thanks to Ashana and Geneva for the chalk drawing).
Blenheim cafe owner Clint Banks says the talent of his brother, Makos hero Marty Banks, runs in the family
Marty, the Tasman Makos first five-eighth, is the new hero of Marlborough rugby, and Clint, who owns 23 Grove Road Coffee House, puts it down to the hours Marty spent watching him and their two brothers playing the game as a child.
"He always watched us play, and our league games, and he would always practice, he could kick a ball very well even from the age of two," he said.
All four Banks boys followed in the footsteps of their father Richard and represented Buller playing rugby, but that is as far as it got for the three older brothers.
"We all played rep rugby but we didn't go as far as him, I think he had a bit of all of us [brothers] and dad all rolled up into him," Clint said.
Marty's big break has left no hard feelings for Clint though, who could not be more proud of his brother.
"It's his time," he said. "It's amazing how he's been so close for so long but never been able to get over the line and I think it's got a lot to do with [coaches] Leon [MacDonald] and [Kieran] Keane. They have given him a chance and he's showing people what he can do."
Marty's "cult hero" status is not surprising, considering it has taken him only six games to break the season points-scoring record for the team.
On Sunday Marty scored 27 of his 130 points for the season, surpassing the 116 scored by former skipper Andrew Goodman in 2011.
"That's probably the unbelievable part, we all knew there was talent and he was going somewhere but we didn't know how big [he was going to get]," Clint said.
Despite his new status, Clint said Marty has stayed true to his grounded nature.
"He just loves the game and I don't think he's doing it for any accolades or anything."
"You see him after the games and he's signing autographs and making sure he's giving back to what he was, cause I remember when he used to do that when he was a kid," he said.
Having a brother in the Makos has meant Clint has paid a lot more attention to the ITM Cup than ever before, he said.
Clint and at least 20 other family members had ordered black "Marty" wigs, and would be lining the bank at Lansdowne Park on Saturday to cheer on the boys as they take on Southland in the competition semifinal.
