Makos Player Profile - Marty Banks
Name: Marty Banks
Age: 24
Position: 1st Five
Club: Waimea Old Boys
Makos Caps: 8
At what age and at what position did you first play rugby?
Ever since I could run, my earliest position was 1st Five.
Who was your biggest influence to become a better rugby player?
Definitely my family.
When did you realise you might be any good at the rugby?
When I first watched Robbie Malneek play in 1970.
Who has been your biggest influence on life away from the game?
My family again. My brothers took me along to all their sports when I was younger so I learnt a lot from them.
Who in the Makos gives you the biggest grief and why?
It’s more like who doesn't give me grief, but mainly our number 13 with the boulder sized head, Kieron Fonotia. The boys enjoy it and with my build and hair I'm a pretty easy target to be fair.
Who do you like to give grief to and why?
James Lowe and Fonotia, for my sanity’s sake mainly!
Name any player in world rugby who you would most like to be like and why?
Christian Cullen, the All Black full back, because he was a bit of a freak on the rugby field!
What is the one thing that people don’t know about you?
I enjoy long walks on the beach and finger painting!
