Ellery Hanley

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.