Ask a rugby league fan of a certain age to name the most complete player Britain has produced, and many will answer in two words: Ellery Hanley. Stand-off, centre, wing or loose forward, he excelled everywhere, scoring 396 tries for his clubs and captaining Great Britain to famous wins over Australia.
He also won the Man of Steel award a record three times, and went on to break new ground as a coach. Here is the story of Mr Magic. Find more 13-a-side legends in our rugby league collection.
Ellery Hanley Fact File
| Full name | Cuthwyn Ellery Hanley |
| Date of birth | 27 March 1961 (age 65) |
| Place of birth | Leeds, West Yorkshire, England |
| Positions | Stand-off, loose forward, centre, wing |
| Nationality | English (Great Britain international) |
| Status | Retired player and coach |
| Nickname | Mr Magic |
Career History
| Years | Club | Apps | Tries |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978–85 | Bradford Northern | 126 | 89 |
| 1985–91 | Wigan | 202 | 189 |
| 1988 | Balmain Tigers | 8 | 5 |
| 1989 | Western Suburbs | 13 | 4 |
| 1991–95 | Leeds | 114 | 106 |
| 1996–97 | Balmain Tigers | 26 | 3 |
| Total | 489 | 396 |
Club appearances and tries. Some sources give slightly different appearance totals for Bradford and Leeds. Internationally he won 36 Great Britain caps (20 tries) and two England caps.
Early Years: Bradford Northern
Born in Leeds, Hanley began his professional career with Bradford Northern in 1978. It was in 1984–85 that the league really took notice: he scored 55 tries in 37 games and won his first Man of Steel award.
Great Britain had already come calling, handing him his debut in 1984.
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Breakthrough: Wigan and a Record Fee
In 1985 Wigan paid a then-record £150,000 to sign him, and he repaid them immediately. In 1986–87 he scored 63 tries, a record for a non-winger, as Wigan won their first league title in 27 years and Hanley collected a second Man of Steel.
As captain he led Wigan to three successive Challenge Cup final wins at Wembley, and in 1989 he won the Lance Todd Trophy after scoring in the 27-0 final win over St Helens. A third Man of Steel followed the same year.
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Peak: Great Britain Captain
Hanley captained the 1988 Lions tour to Australia and led Great Britain to Test wins over the Kangaroos in 1988 and 1990, rare and treasured victories in that era. He also played in Sydney with Balmain and Western Suburbs, featuring in Balmain's 1988 Grand Final.
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Later Career: Leeds and Coaching
In 1991 Leeds paid a world-record £250,000 to bring him home, and in 1994–95 he scored 41 tries, a world record for a forward. In 1994 he became Great Britain coach, widely recognised as the first Black coach of a major British national team, and in 1999 he guided St Helens to the Super League title.
Honours
Club (Wigan)
- Challenge Cup: four wins
- Championship: three titles
- World Club Challenge
- Premiership, John Player Trophy and Lancashire Cup winner
Individual
- Man of Steel: 1985, 1987, 1989 (a record)
- Lance Todd Trophy: 1989
- Great Britain captain on the 1988 Lions tour
Coaching
- Super League champion with St Helens: 1999
Halls of Fame & National
- MBE: 1990, for services to rugby league
- Rugby Football League Hall of Fame: 2005
- Wigan Warriors Hall of Fame: 2007
Away From the Game
Hanley chaired the panel for the Steve Prescott Man of Steel award in 2019 and coached the Combined Nations All Stars against England in 2022. His son Umyla has followed him into professional rugby league with Leigh Leopards.
FAQs
How old is Ellery Hanley?
Ellery Hanley was born on 27 March 1961, so he is 65 years old.
Where was Ellery Hanley born?
He was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire.
What clubs did Ellery Hanley play for?
He played for Bradford Northern, Wigan, Leeds, Balmain Tigers and Western Suburbs, and won 36 caps for Great Britain.
How many tries did Ellery Hanley score?
He scored 396 tries in 489 club appearances, plus 20 tries for Great Britain.
How many times did Ellery Hanley win Man of Steel?
Three, in 1985, 1987 and 1989, a record for the award.
Did Ellery Hanley coach Great Britain?
Yes. He coached Great Britain in 1994 and later led St Helens to the 1999 Super League title.
Shop the Ellery Hanley Collection
Wear a rugby league great with our Ellery Hanley designs, made to order in the UK.
Browse more icons of the 13-a-side game in our rugby league collection. Fancy your own name on the back instead? Design a custom name hoodie.
Part of our Player Profiles series. Read next: Kevin Sinfield and Brian O'Driscoll.
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