Steve Ella

Freakish attacking centre/five-eighth during the Eels’ premiership reign in the 1980s, Steve Ella's career was almost over before it started. A medial ligament injury in 1979 sidelined him for almost 18 months but Ella recovered to become the ‘Zip, Zip Man’ in the club's champion backline. A cousin of the famous Ella brothers of Australian RU fame, Steve Ella was a superbly gifted player with abundant pace, great anticipation and remarkable ball skills. He toured with the 1982 Kangaroos and scored 21 tries in 13 matches (no Tests) including 4 tries against Wales and 7 tries against Villeneuve. He suffered a second knee injury in the 1984 grand final but went on to play in Australia’s Test series victory against NZ in 1985. Ella was the season's leading try-scorer in 1985 with 21 tries and later played for Wigan in 1985-86. He scored 21 tries in 23 games (including 11 in two matches) and was named ‘man of the match’ in the club's Lancashire Cup victory. Ella played in P’matta's last premiership success, the tryless grand final in 1986. Not being overly robust, knee and shoulder injuries plagued his later career. After playing in England with Wakefield Trinity Ella retired in 1989 after missing many months through injury.