Re: Hanley : Tue Mar 02, 2021 1:43 pm  

batleyrhino wrote:

As a Stand Off or Loose Forwards, there were some things that he wasn't so good at, the cut out pass to the winger for example, but that didn't matter because he usually scored himself rather than put someone else in. He wasn't much of a team player but didn't need to be. Think of someone with the physical capability of Keith Senior and the mental capability of Jamie Peacock.

Ellery was as good a player as I've ever seen in 35 years of watching this sport.

Agree. He was incredible to watch. Brilliant player. Remember when he retired I was at a presentation event to some Leeds junior players (I was one of them) and he was quite critical of the Leeds board at the time about a lack of backing.

Best player I’ve ever seen in this country

Re: Hanley : Tue Mar 02, 2021 1:47 pm  

Simply the greatest for me. He was my favourite player even before he came to us. He was one of the most instinctive players you'll ever see. Watch his highlights and you'll see he had bags of physical ability but he could read the game like no one else. You'd find yourself watching him rather than the game because he wasn't far from the action.

Top bloke too. There's plenty of (warranted) bad press, but I got to know him and he's fantastic. Never walked past me without asking how I was. Guess it helps that I wasn't a woman, not that I'm one now

Re: Hanley : Tue Mar 02, 2021 1:59 pm  

I liked when he went on Dancing On Ice

Proof that he really did walk on water.

Re: Hanley : Tue Mar 02, 2021 2:24 pm  

D4mo78 wrote:

Simply the greatest for me. He was my favourite player even before he came to us. He was one of the most instinctive players you'll ever see. Watch his highlights and you'll see he had bags of physical ability but he could read the game like no one else. You'd find yourself watching him rather than the game because he wasn't far from the action.

Top bloke too. There's plenty of (warranted) bad press, but I got to know him and he's fantastic. Never walked past me without asking how I was. Guess it helps that I wasn't a woman, not that I'm one now

Ha ha ha. Great memories.
What did he have against women? This doesn't sound good.....

Re: Hanley : Tue Mar 02, 2021 2:25 pm  

Tomkins is/was a great player but not in the same League as Hanley. I wouldn't;t even have him in the top 5 SL payers of all time.

Ive been fortunate to see quite a lot of my League legends play live (Sterling, Lewis, Kenny, Johns, Hanley). My favourite all time player is Peter Sterling, but I think Hanley probably beats him as an all round player

Re: Hanley : Tue Mar 02, 2021 2:41 pm  

It would be interesting to see where he would play if he came through now, I don't think he'd be a 13 or a 6.

Re: Hanley : Tue Mar 02, 2021 3:42 pm  

Danny McGuire is the best player ever.

Re: Hanley : Tue Mar 02, 2021 4:23 pm  

Hanley was one of the most naturally gifted atheletes I've ever seen play the game. If you could catch him he had a really peculiar sideways running style but still managed to go forward and a hand off to keep pretty much everyone off him at half speed and above. Was a pleasure to see him play but my favorite (unfortunately in a Wigan shirt) was Brett Kenny. Just a beautiful runner and he could find a pass when you would think there wasn't one.
Favorite player of all time, Wally Lewis. You will not convince me that there has ever been a better player.

Re: Hanley : Tue Mar 02, 2021 5:16 pm  

Watching some of the replays of early 90s games on the Rhinos YouTube channel does remind you though just how average some of the rugby was, defensively especially.

Re: Hanley : Tue Mar 02, 2021 6:30 pm  

I've seen many eras Hanley was the best player this cou try has produced. Not a great passer of the ball ,but wonderful natural athlete a pleasure to watch . Wigan fans saw more than us from Tomkins so they may have something ,but Isaw Hanley at Wigan as much as Tomkins . That try he scored at Wembley. Halifax when he danced sideways like he was saying ' come on, come on ,come on ' it was contemptible, but a superb player showing his athletic skills