Ellery Hanley

Playing Career

Vital Statistics

Born
Monday, 27th March, 1961
Current Age
62 years and 358 days

Awards & Accolades

Man Of Steel Award
1985, 1987, 1989
Golden Boot Award
1988
Lance Todd Trophy
1989
English Hall Of Fame
2005
International Hall Of Fame
2005

Known Family Links

Son
Umyla Hanley

Biography

Brilliant Great Britain Test star played wing, centre, five-eighth and lock for his country before taking over as national coach for the 1994 Ashes series. Hanley, who first toured Australia in 1984, made a stunning impact with Balmain after competing in the 1988 Ashes series. He added much-needed pace and flair to the Tigers’ backline and scored tries in each of Balmain's four sudden-death matches when the club made the grand final from equal-fifth place. Unfortunately, he was knocked senseless in a tackle by C’bury’s Terry Lamb and the Tigers lost the match. The following year Hanley signed on as a 'gun for hire' with battlers Wests. The Adidas ‘Golden Boot’ award winner as the best player in the World in 1989, the former Bradford Northern five-eighth joined Wigan on a contract reportedly worth £150,000. Hanley returned to Australia in 1992 as captain of the Lions but played less than 15 minutes of football in a minor tour match against Newcastle. He took over as captain-coach of Leeds but was the surprise choice as successor to Mal Reilly as coach of Great Britain in the 1994 Ashes series. Hanley's charges pulled off a stunning 8-4 win at Wembley in the First Test but despite persistent rumours of a comeback as a player in the deciding Third Test, he watched from the sidelines as Great Britain lost the match 23-4, and the Ashes series. Although well past his prime, Hanley signed with the ARL in 1996 and played two final seasons with the Tigers. Returning to England as coach of St Helens, he continued his stand-off with the press and was released by the club in 2000.
- ALAN WHITICKER

Playing Career Statistics

All statistics shown in this section are based only on data available in the RLP database, and are not necessarily a complete and/or 100% accurate representation of a player's career. This information should be used as a guide only. If you see a question mark (?), it denotes that the figure is not available.

To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.

Competitions

Competition   App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Yorkshire Cup 11 8 5   - 41 7 4 0 63.64% List
English Championship 307 281 79   5 1267 209 80 18 68.08% List
Regal Trophy 38 30 3   - 125 29 7 2 76.32% List
Challenge Cup 47 42 4   - 173 38 8 1 80.85% List
Premiership Trophy 14 7 -   - 28 5 8 1 35.71% List
Tour Matches Great Britain 24 8 -   - 32 9 14 1 37.50% List
Test Series 16 5 -   - 12 3 12 1 18.75% List
The Ashes 10 2 -   - 16 2 8 0 20.00% List
Lancashire Cup 14 16 -   - 64 14 0 0 100.00% List
Tour Matches Wigan Warriors 2 - -   - - 1 1 0 50.00% List
World Cup 10 4 -   - 16 5 3 2 50.00% List
World Club Challenge 1 - -   - - 1 0 0 100.00% List
NRL 47 12 -   1 49 24 22 1 51.06% List
NRL Finals 4 4 -   - 16 3 1 0 75.00% List


International

Test Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Great Britain 1984-93 36 20 -   - 80 19 15 2 52.78% List
England 1984, 1992 2 2 -   - 8 2 0 0 100.00% List
Overall1984-1993 38 22 0   0 88 21 15 2 55.26% List

International Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Great Britain 1984-1988 1 1 -   - 4 1 0 0 100.00% List
Rest Of The World 1988 1 - -   - - 0 1 0 0.00% List
Overall1988 2 1 0   0 4 1 1 0 50.00% List

World Cup Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Great Britain 1984-1992 10 4 -   - 16 5 3 2 50.00% List


Representative

England - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Europe 1984 1 1 -   - 4 0 1 0 0.00% List


Club Career

NRL/NSWRL - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Balmain NSWRL 1988 8 5 -   - 20 6 2 0 75.00% List
Western Suburbs NSWRL 1989 13 4 -   - 16 5 7 1 38.46% List
Sydney Tigers ARL 1996 12 2 -   1 9 7 5 0 58.33% List
Balmain ARL 1997 14 1 -   - 4 6 8 0 42.86% List

NRL/NSWRL - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Balmain 1988, 1996-97 34 8 -   1 33 19 15 0 55.88% List
Western Suburbs 1989 13 4 -   - 16 5 7 1 38.46% List
Overall1988-1997 47 12 0   1 49 24 22 1 51.06% List

English Career - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Bradford 1981/82 39 15 41   - 127 24 13 2 61.54% List
Bradford 1982/83 19 10 2   1 35 11 6 2 57.89% List
Bradford 1983/84 22 12 2   1 53 14 6 2 63.64% List
Bradford 1984/85 37 52 36   - 280 19 16 2 51.35% List
Wigan 1985/86 39 35 8   - 156 30 6 3 76.92% List
Wigan 1986/87 39 59 1   - 238 37 2 0 94.87% List
Wigan 1987/88 32 31 -   - 124 21 9 2 65.63% List
Wigan 1987/88 1 - -   - - 1 0 0 100.00% List
Wigan 1988/89 38 25 -   1 101 30 7 1 78.95% List
Wigan 1989/90 20 10 -   - 40 17 3 0 85.00% List
Wigan 1990/91 32 29 -   1 117 26 4 2 81.25% List
Leeds 1991/92 19 9 -   - 36 9 9 1 47.37% List
Leeds 1992/93 31 31 -   - 124 17 12 2 54.84% List
Leeds 1993/94 30 25 -   1 101 19 9 2 63.33% List
Leeds 1994/95 34 41 1   - 166 28 5 1 82.35% List

English Career - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Bradford 1981-84 117 89 81   2 495 68 41 8 58.12% List
Wigan 1985-90 201 189 9   2 776 162 31 8 80.60% List
Leeds 1991-94 114 106 1   1 427 73 35 6 64.04% List
Overall1981-1995 432 384 91   5 1,698 303 107 22 70.14% List

Your Say

  • Mick Preston
    10/10/2017

    I had the honour of playing in the under 13,s and 16,s Leeds city boys and for Corpus Christi and the Leeds and District at under 18 level
    One story i tell many times is when after playing for the under 13s me and my late dear old Dad were walking to the bus stop and my Dad turned to me and said"He is very greedy -that coloured lad".He then said"Although every time he gets the ball he scores!"Enough said lol

  • Brian Sanderson
    04/01/2019

    Ellery was transferred to Wigan for £85000 plus Steve Dolan

    And Phil Ford going to Bradford in part exchange.

  • Paul
    03/05/2020

    The finest player I ever saw play. Had the honour of watching his every game for a season at Leeds where he was head and shoulders above the rest of the side. Absolute class.

  • Want to have your say about this player? Add a comment.

Contributions: Rugby League Tables, Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson, Alan Katzmann, AJ Lucantonio, Paul Carter, Greg Fiveash, Max Turner, Bill Bates, Tim Costello

Sources: ARL Rugby League Yearbook 1997, NRL Rugby League Yearbook 1998, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1989-90, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1988-89, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1995-96, Irvin Saxton's Record Keepers' Club, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1994-95, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1991-92, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1990-91, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1989-90, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1988-89, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1983-84, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1985-86, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1987-88, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1982-83, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1992-93, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1986-87, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1984-85, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1993-94