He was the man with the goods as he calmly knocked over the drop goal from the left of the posts, about 20m out, to give the Highlanders a seven point lead with just over two minutes left.
It was a cool bit of finishing for Banks but it was third time lucky after two previous attempts had been closed down by the Hurricanes defence.
''The first two were planned. The one I got wasn't really. The ball just flew out of the ruck. I was just trying to run down the time and try and score a try,'' he said.
''We just needed to get that seven point buffer to make it safe.
''We have been having a few competitions during the week, me and Lima [Sopoaga], and we have been saying if we have to hit a droppie, we just have to be calm and just strike it.
''We got carried away during the week, hitting it too hard. All that was going through my head was, 'Tap it and it will go through.'
''I didn't think about it too much and that is what saved me. I had to think about it in the first two.''
Banks came on with about 10 minutes to go as Sopoaga had leg cramps. He did not expect to get on and any time on the field was a bonus.
Banks played for the Hurricanes last year and said it was surreal to return to a final in Wellington.
''We had been written off all week. The Hurricanes deserved favouritism but we just backed ourselves and that is what got us across the line.
''We were stuffed ... they [forwards] were on their last legs. To get over that line after 80 minutes just shows what the Highlanders are all about.''
Banks' drop goal was the icing on the cake of a tremendously committed effort from the Highlanders.
The visiting side was ahead for all of the game and showed real resilience on defence at times as the Hurricanes pressed in the second half.
Sopoaga had banged over two penalties after a tough opening half hour but Ma'a Nonu replied, going over in the corner with under five minutes left as he squeezed under a Josh Hohneck tackle.
But Elliot Dixon then came back with a tremendous run from 20m out to score, and Sopoaga's conversion put the Highlanders up 13-5 at the break.
Winger Waisake Naholo scored his 13th try of the season six minutes into the second half, getting inside Julian Savea's tackle.
Savea then dropped the ball with the line open on the three quarter mark and it looked as though it was not going to be the home team's night.
A subdued Beauden Barrett kicked a penalty with 15 minutes left but Banks' heroics sealed the deal for the southern conquerors.
Super rugby final
The scores
Highlanders 21
Elliot Dixon, Waisake Naholo tries; Lima Sopoaga con, 2 pen, Marty Banks drop goal
Hurricanes 14
Ma'a Nonu try; Beauden Barrett 3 pen
Halftime: Highlanders 13-5.
Crowd: 35,000.
The final
Five key moments
12th minute
The Hurricanes swing on to attack and charge for the line. It looks like one of their burly tight forwards might make it over the line but Malakai Fekitoa holds the ball up. It goes to a scrum and the Hurricanes are penalised.
39th minute
Man of the match Elliot Dixon receives the ball about 20m out with a bit of traffic in front of him. He proceeds to run around, through and over four men on the way to scoring a fantastic try which gives the Highlanders a handy lead going into the break.
61st minute
The ball is swung left by the Hurricanes to create an overlap. All Black winger Julian Savea just has to catch the ball and it is a try. He can't, and the Highlanders clear.
72nd minute
The Hurricanes have a lineout less than 20m from the tryline. They throw in but the Highlanders forwards, led by replacement prop Ross Geldenhuys, pour through and the ball is turned over.
77th minute
The Highlanders had tried twice for a drop goal but Marty Banks could not find the time to get the kick away. Finally he receives the ball from a ruck 20m out and just bangs the ball straight down the middle. Eureka!
