Ellery Hanley 1983 - 1990

[@edwardburek1717]

Dare I say it, Rugby League's first true global superstar?? Not only was he loved and feared in England and Australia, he also helped the Americans sit up and take notice of this great game.

[@typhoon2827]

I know what you mean but "global" is a stretch. Northern England and Australia maybe.

[@stanmonzon5788]

The Americans have never sat up and taken notice of Rugby League.

[@robfinlay8058]

He did get some attention in the US. There was talk about him going to play NFL football but it was never going to happen.

[@lonestar6709]

Ask the Aussies how good he was... When he went to play with the Tigers, you could see jaws dropping. Ellery Hanley was a breed that even the Australians had never seen. Twinkle-toed maestro, with pace like fire. One of the three best Northern Hemisphere runners ever, in Rugby. Alongside Martin Offiah and Jason Robinson.

[@r45-i8b]

And all of African heritage there's no doubting black people have better fast twitch muscle fibres balance & coordination it can't b argued

[@papalegba6796]

Played against him in the juniors, if you could even catch him it was like tackling a concrete bollard. Then he'd do that bucking thing to get you off him, like the terminator or something. He was a nightmare to play against 😂

[@darrylmackie9184]

I Remember A Grandfinal in SYDNEY! His JAW DROPPED.

[@PrinceofTroy-kx3nk]

Lmao😅😊😂. You can thank Baaaahh 4 that😃.​@@darrylmackie9184

[@moptopbaku6022]

I am so lucky to have seen Hanley at his best. There will always be only one King Ellery.

[@haydenknight1858]

I remember seeing him play in person for the Balmain Tigers when I was a kid. Blew my mind what he could do out there. His game really evolved over the years as well proving himself to be super versatile. One of the greats.

[@skippyleb]

True - you can't ignore his versatility and his evolution, from speedy winger, to devastating centre, to cunning 6 and 13. I was lucky to live in Wigan during his pomp.

[@thylacine1004]

That stint with the Tigers is the best performance I've seen from a British import...The Tigers made a good run in 88 without a doubt due to Elleries brilliance....

[@chamberpot969]

@@thylacine1004 Ba Lamb nobbled him in the 1987 Grand Final.

[@jnic2165]

What he did in 88 is the stuff of legend.

[@nathansmart1532]

The True Black Pearl.!

[@imnotavingthat6813]

On a rugby pitch he was GOD, The Black Pearl the GREATEST EVER

[@bk1147]

The fact that in Ireland we call Paul McGrath our black pearl means that Ellery is in exalted company and very well deserved!

[@imnotavingthat6813]

@@bk1147 What a man and what a player, world class in every sense. imagine how good he would have been without his issues. Long live King Paul

[@Giveme1goodreason]

@@bk1147 Paul McGrath, ellery hanley and Steve Renouf all icons bearing the moniker of black pearl, and all three were rare treasures.

[@loufrost824]

I'll never forget his 1988 half season with the Balmain Tigers. Absolutely unstoppable, the game plan was pass to Hanley...

[@blackopman1]

Ellery Hanley blew my mind as a kid when he came to Australia to play with Balmain Tigers. What a complete player. The tougher it got the better he got. Blessed to have seen him at work.

[@matcole1975]

I met El in Australia. Gary Schofield too. Very lucky. Great players 💯

[@grahamlowe7388]

The best player I have seen play for Wigan in 50 years of watching RL.

[@halfdayofthejackal9372]

As a lifelong rugby league fan, this is the purest of all the purest runners of the ball! Class personified.

[@mickjones5763]

Not a rugby follower, but loved watching Wigan on the tv during the 80's. What a star studded team they had.

[@dazeng4633]

Totally agree, I remember losing interest when this monster retired.

[@ccinventories7657]

I was also hooked on this great Wigan side and can’t explain why as i played rugby(union) at school but never really enjoyed it!I’m a football man so that makes it all the more odd as i’d never seen a rugby league game until i watched a cup final back in the eighties between Wigan and Hull KR( think it was them and not Hull).Still prefer RL now!😊

[@Thetimbermanjim]

I grew up as a kid watching him,I constantly tell my son how good he was, he was truly a star, him and Farrell were my first heroes!

[@JamesAH1]

I think it’s fair to say Hanley was probably the greatest of his generation and quite possibly one of if not the greatest rugby league player of all time.

[@kc-vf4lp]

Amazing player, saw him when he came to New Zealand. One of the greats.

[@prac2]

Loved watching him play for balmain

[@stevemanser.]

I think that 95% of this footage is actually in high definition, but Hanley is so fast, a lot of it is a pixellated blur. What a player.

[@chamberpot969]

Absolutely awesome at Balmain. God bless him.

[@michaelbiggs1254]

I hated him. Not being a Wigan fan. I can appreciate him now though. The greatest British player I ever saw. Possibly the greatest in the World.

[@citroen-fe3qq]

Ellery Hanley -- he is why i started watching Rugby League

[@dcr1545]

Even as a Australian I loved watching him play.

[@rolandpotter479]

The best player of his generation.Shame rugby league never used his abilities in management.

[@Bungadin2845]

Absolute legend. If he’d been American he would have been a running back in the class of Walter Payton.

[@newprofilesowhat1339]

He had trials for the London Monarchs and didn't make it despite a requirement for 3 British players. They went with a running back and a cornerback from UK teams, who were phenomenal athletes themselves, and a kicker... his lack of experience/knowledge of the game and his age probably held him back, but like the 2 athletes who did get picked, if they'd started out as kids the NFL would have been a big possibility...

[@DJCoachCookie68]

Wow! What a player!

[@stevenwebb3634]

One of two players they would stand up for at Leichhardt Oval when he played for Balmain.

[@timedison6687]

Holy shit... What a freakishly brilliant player!

[@stephenjames4806]

Strength balance speed agility vision ball skills he had it all..

[@whatsnottohike]

I'm not even a rugby fan but whenever I did watch it as a kid, it always seem to be Hanley scoring the tries. Wigan at Wembley challenge cup finals, always Hanley.

[@robertwallace7968]

One of the best ! Did anyone notice Steve blocker Roach(12:20) blowing out if his arse tackling Elllery? great days

[@davemuckeye]

When Hanley played in Australia, he was in the 1988 NRL grand final - Balmain Tigers v Canterbury Bulldogs… “The Black Pearl” TO THIS DAY can’t remember what happened after being “collected” by Canterbury five-eighth Terry Lamb in an off-the-ball incident and was left heavily dazed with the clock ticking towards the 30-minute mark. After spending 10 minutes in the "head bin" he briefly returned to the field but was unable to come back out for the second half. Edit: Balmain lost… what a game…

[@davidstuddert-z2k]

yeah it was a cheap shot by Lamb but in the end the street remembers hanley and balmain and wouldn't know who was in the bulldogs team for love or money, except for cheap shot Terry Lamb, so there you are

[@bobbytreetop1701]

If Hanley had played Rah Rah he’d have a knighthood.

[@barryjames544]

Alongside Ben Barba the two best runners of the ball I have seen in 50 years.

[@jeewa7961]

Awesome athlete, a champion in the world’s toughest team sport.

[@EightFrancs]

Absolutely phenomenal.

[@jimmclean7938]

I live in Scotland and am a rugby league fan because of that wonderful Wigan team, so much so I enthusiastically support England in all games...eh apart when playing us

[@dazeng4633]

Superb brother. Reciprocal here 👍

[@philipocallaghan4778]

Seen Ellery Hanley playing for Balmain V Manley in Sydney in 1988, what a player unfortunately he got knock out in the grand final against Canterbury Bankstown .

[@darrylmackie9184]

Was a Shame, BUT YA GOTTA LOVE IT, WHEN A PLAN COMES OFF.

[@murtog1]

That name rings in eternity Ellery Hanely

[@neilsilver2553]

'88 Cup final v Halifax, I was a ballboy, on the nearside touchline when Lydon took that ball from the restart, curved through the defence and down the touchline. I was convinced then as I am now that Lydon could have made it to the corner and scored an all-time great final try. Meredith was quick but he'd already read the pass to Hanley. Eadie wouldn't have made it across either. It's still a brilliant try, the way Hanley knows he can't outpace Meredith but can evade him enough to make it to the line. Favourite Hanley try is the Bradford one, down the touchline, he's still going.....

[@stevegordon2032]

The Pele of rugby league.

[@shaunwalker2557]

i remember when they played an exhibition match in the US...the American's were gobsmacked not by only what a good game Rugby League ..but ELLERY himself.

[@richardspinks6736]

The best GB player i have seen.

[@gregbonham8437]

GreAt footy player must still have nightmares what Terry lamb done to him

[@huwzebediahthomas9193]

That Oz number 8 always went high on him. What a County Kent. 🙂🙃🙂

[@marknorris1381]

Great player, exciting player.

[@huwzebediahthomas9193]

Amazing - put any number on his back and he'll be the best at it. Remember well the Hanley - Shaun Edwards double act at Wigan.

[@leewilliams9560]

Didn't realise how good he was. Fine player.

[@fatstorvolay2243]

Great player! Would love to know why he went to Wests in 1989 rather than back for another year at Balmain. If he went back, they would have been premiers in 1989.

[@Soyuz2578]

This man scored 63 tries in 1 season and that was back in the 90s.. players these days in the NRL are lucky to crack 20 tries!!!!

[@aclarke2708]

When I was a kid some of the balmain players would walk through the crowd at Leichardt oval and couldn't get an autograph so I decided to walk behind the clubhouse where nobody was and seen Ellery with 2 other men in suits heading up a sig sag external metal stairs he was almost to the top but I called out to him saying hey black pearl could I have your autograph and he came down just for me and never forget that, later that year in 1988 my team the bulldogs beat them in the GF in which Ellery had been KO'd by Terry Lamb but still never forget what you did Ellery and a fan of yours bud

[@Chris-hp1wy]

Great story. The Black Pearl was a class act on and off the pitch

[@jamesharmon445]

Absolute league legend

[@kevinworrall231]

What a player best ever

[@HelloMyNamesNino]

Can’t believe he was only 6 when he died! What a great player considering he was only a toddler.

[@sventextor1309]

Sly humour my friend well done!

[@CommandoG331]

That try vs St Helens at Wembley is still my all time favourite try. Only Hanley could've ran that line. He is the greatest.

[@TherymasterWidnes]

The first opponent I genuinely feared playing at Naughton Park. Great player.

[@henrykoi5742]

I still remember him playing for the tigers. What a master piece. Why wasn't his contract renewed?

[@TheTillsterandHerWeirdBestie]

Because he was already contracted at the best club in the world Wigan. Back then rugby league was played in the winter here in England, so in the off season English players went and played short stints in Australia, as did Australian players in their off season. Ellery was and still is the best player Rugby League has ever seen. It was his skillset that set him apart from the rest and he could either beat a player through pace, power or a swerve. Players would bounce off him if they tried to put a shot on him, yet also slide off him if they tried to wrap his legs up. He could sniff out a try 4 plays in front and his try scoring record speaks for itself. Legend and the GOT!

[@joebragg3114]

I was a Fev fan at that Bradford game in clip one. It was a privilege to watch him destroy us!

[@Dianchi]

Magic simple as that.

[@ivoosborn2620]

That's why am called The Black Pearl. Absolutely phonnamal ✨🏉❤👑

[@huwzebediahthomas9193]

Was an amazing player - was the Mike Tyson of Rugby League then. 👍😎

[@jayaychare7318]

loved the GB stash

[@CamperKev]

A rugby league legend.

[@SteveggStevegg]

So good.

[@chrisoliver4757]

What a guy.

[@teariki-barefist2932]

Ellery and tuta,vs Lewis and Langer. I was there.go totally!!!

[@TheLRider]

Wonder where that Edwards would end up.. 😂Hanley an absolute fantastic unique player. Far greater skill set than just speed and strength..

[@onepath5978]

Totally electric always something was going to happen when the ball went to Hanley,

[@HannibalLekta-qg2ip]

legend...

[@matthewhicks3155]

If you were picking all-time World 13, Hanley is arguably the only British player that would make the team.....

[@papalegba6796]

Robinson would too

[@matthewhicks3155]

@papalegba6796 Offiah was a better winger than Robinson, IMO. Wendell Sailor and Eric Goathe for me.

[@papalegba6796]

@@matthewhicks3155 offiah was nowhere near robinson. My mate Norman Francis sent offiah into the stands when he tried to go outside him but said he couldn't put a finger on Robinson. Nobody who played with both of them would ever put offiah ahead of Robinson.

[@matthewhicks3155]

@papalegba6796 "Nobody who played with Offiah" what a ridiculous statement. Wingers are there to put the ball over the line and, in the main, are judged on the number of tries they score. In that department, Offiah was stratospheres ahead of Robinson. FFS, Offiah scored 10 tries in just one game. If you took at a highlight reel, Offiah's would far surpass Robinsons. Norman Francis! Are you telling me because he tackled Offiah once that makes Robinson a better winger. Explain that logic. Look what Offiah did to Alain Tait at Wembley. Robinson wouldn't have scored that try. Over 30 to 40 yards, Robinson was electric, but as an out an out winger, he didn't have Offiah's pace.

[@beano3868]

Top man 👍

[@christouvelos4897]

Australia needed 3 tacklers every time he got the ball to try and stop him

[@bedcurt]

wish i had 1% he had on the rugby field. There was always a great try by hanley at the challenge cup final when wigan dominated

[@alpachinobaby]

The King 👑

[@jacobfield4848]

A Genius.

Legend

[@unclefatbloke687]

I was much more a Union fan than League, but I really liked watching Hanley play. Can someone please explain why Ellerygot 36 caps for Great Britain but only 2 for England?!

[@alfiedamage9203]

Probably because England rarely played any games compared to GB.

[@kenwardkgarg]

'The Pele of British rugby league'.

[@marvinbampton3565]

Best ever 100%😎👊

[@bk1147]

The most naturally talented guy from either code

[@Oddly1970]

He’s not dead

[@chamberpot969]

Baa Lamb took Hanley out, and the Aussie press could not bring themselves to admit it.

[@houndofzoltan]

"They call him the Pele of rugby league!"

[@Hertog_von_Berkshire]

Best hand-off ever.

[@papalegba6796]

Maninga was better.

[@alfiedamage9203]

The first try (and best) was actually in 1983.

[@aarondadoo]

True - it's a massive miss it is the only Bradford Northern try shown here - he scored some "impossible" ones in his nest season , playing in an average team ...

[@alfiedamage9203]

@aarondadoo I was 15 & about 10 metres from where he put the ball down for the Northern try at Headingley.

[@thestoicwhinger]

Didn't know he played so many positions, which was his best?

[@roberthowe2910]

True great....wat a Wigan team thou..made him look better...

[@Genghis-Khan121]

Wigan Legend besides his speed and agility and brain he was noticed for his transverse (the ability to run forward sideways what a team wigan had during those years Edwards Gregory Lydon Gill and others so many not forgetting Offiah

[@stephengoodwin2754]

Goat and that's the bottom line

[@gaofei3093]

wigan legend, GB legend ... but looks like everyone has forgot that he came from the Bradford production line

[@papalegba6796]

Not Bradford, from Leeds, & he wasn't even the most gifted of his age group. Norman Francis was, but Norman didn't have the mentality for it, was too nice a guy. But he was better than Hanley.

[@aarondadoo]

@@papalegba6796 Mentality is all part of the game - if you're better as an all-round player , then you are the better player, gifted or not gifted

[@jocknaylor4359]

R Kelly’s Da!

[@robicenco1]

Wish England RU could have had him instead of Guscott...

[@richardsayner1282]

'Night and Day' comes to mind

[@arcticchrisx7724]

Guscott is like the Wish version of Hanley

[@george5590]

remember when he got knocked out playing for Balmain. he would of won that game for them, Ausie who hit him should of been sent off

[@Chris-hp1wy]

That was the plan - take out Ellery and we win the game

[@PrinceofTroy-kx3nk]

​@@Chris-hp1wyThe awful Truth 🙄

[@typhoon2827]

WTF is "British Coal"? 😉

[@keithfarrell7633]

He'd be world famous if he'd chosen to play rugby union. Seems such a waste of an extraordinary talent. Nobody is interested in these international rugby league matches. He could have been an English sporting icon like the great Jason Robinson who started his career in league but switched to union.

[@imnotavingthat6813]

Union didn't have the money in those days like they did in jason robinsons day, and its still the same today, back then I'd say wigan were the biggest payers by a distance, there chairman was throwing money about like confetti. And i agree if he'd have gone to union same time robinson did, he would have smashed it, and been a truly global icon. Long live the black pearl. true legend

[@moptopbaku6022]

Yes, but he preferred playing proper rugby not yawnion.

[@imnotavingthat6813]

@@moptopbaku6022 lol. Indeed. The Black pearl GOAT

[@roatanowl8791]

i'm a fan of both codes and would've loved to see him play Union but he definitely didn't waste his extraordinary talent. Absolute legend!

[@kerrinweston996]

You mean it'd be such a waste of an extraordinary talent for the game of Rugby Union.

[@DJoOFa]

The GOAT ☝🏾

[@madman2028]

World Class.