11 September 2025
Former Kiwi Ferns and Junior Kiwis coach and well-known rugby league figure Stan Martin has sadly passed away at the age of 72.
Stan “The Man” was widely recognised throughout the Auckland and wider New Zealand rugby league community. He began as a talented player, transitioned into a successful coaching career, and later became a successful and respected player agent.
Throughout the 1970s, Stan was recognised as a skilful hooker. He toured Australia in 1973 with the Auckland under-23 side and played for the Grey Lynn Richmond Rovers in the Auckland Rugby League competition, winning back-to-back Fox Memorial titles in 1979 and 1980. In 1980, he received the Rothville Trophy for Auckland Rugby League Player of the Year and also represented the Auckland provincial side.
After hanging up his boots, Stan began his coaching career at Auckland’s Marist Saints and went on to receive several impressive appointments. He was the inaugural Counties Manukau coach in the Lion Red Cup from 1994 to 1995, earning the Coach of the Year award. In 1995, Stan also coached the Junior Kiwis before moving to England, where he coached Whitehaven RLFC for four years.
Upon his return to New Zealand, Stan coached the Auckland side for several years and led the Cook Islands to the 2000 Rugby League World Cup. In 2003 he was the Kiwi Ferns Assistant Coach when they won their second World Cup title, then in 2008 he was the Head Coach that guided the Ferns to their third consecutive World Cup title – the last time they won the World Cup.
While coaching, Stan became an NRL-accredited player agent and founded the Sport Vision Management agency in 2002. Since its inception, Sport Vision Management has represented a number of high-profile NRL stars, including current players Erin Clark, Chanel Harris-Tavita, and Deine Mariner.
We extend our heartfelt condolences and thoughts to Stan’s family, friends, and all whose lives he touched. He will be sorely missed, but his contributions to our great game of rugby league will be remembered forever.
