Re: Hanley : Tue Mar 02, 2021 6:53 pm  

LeedsLurch wrote:

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.

Lewis for me too, Hanley devastating runner attacker and yes great natural Athlete, but Lewis could totally dominate a game like no one else with passing, handling kicking, and still dangerous runner in his own right specially closer to the line.

Re: Hanley : Tue Mar 02, 2021 6:59 pm  

christopher wrote:

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

Tompkins not even in top 25 super league players never mind comparing him to Hanley, superb for 3-4 years then just good, not had a dominant consistent career like Sinfield, or Mcguire and think McGuire had loads more natural ability and so did Burrow. Never produced the goods in the really big games. I would put Long, Harris and maybe even Briers above Tompkins.

Re: Hanley : Tue Mar 02, 2021 7:26 pm  

The trouble with tackling Ellery is that he’s always two feet further away than you think he is...

That was John Joyner’s opinion and one I’d trust.

Re: Hanley : Tue Mar 02, 2021 7:37 pm  

Marty Grrrrrrrrrr! wrote:

In a 39-4 cup semi loss to Widnes one year, a total shambles of a performance, Hanley was magnificent. A couple of years later in 94 he won us a semi with 2 match winning tries v Saints.
.

Here's the team from that day -
Tait
Fallon
Irving
Innes
Fawcett
Schofield
Gregory
Molloy
Lowes
O'Neill
Dixon
Mercer
Hanley

Holroyd
Anderson

There's I reckon at least eight quite or really good players in there (plus some not very good admittedly) but at least 10 of that 15 played their best rugby league away from Leeds. Which sums up the era.

Re: Hanley : Tue Mar 02, 2021 7:42 pm  

john holmes for passing so many 2nd row and centres have been quoted as been told you run and i'll find you. wally lewis as best short term visitor . Hanley best all round , was at hull for the broken jaw and the abuse was awful , also at wigan when wigan fans sang gill goes round the outside and hanley through the window, --- 82 aussies awesome for so's lewis, miles , ella , kenny and also centres rogers and menninga

Re: Hanley : Wed Mar 03, 2021 6:51 am  

Hanley was different class and in many ways in Rugby League terms in the UK al comparison to Diego Maradona in football. Diego was all left foot but that didn't matter because you still couldn't get the ball off him and he tied up so many opposition players by being double and triple marked.Ellery ran predominantly towards one side of the field but with such poise pace balance and power that he evaded defenders who slipped or bounced off him. The players he attracted towards him then went a long way to creating the gaps that led to many tries for the likes of Edwards and Offiah.His iron will to win and willingness to put his body where it hurts in attack and defence was as good as anyone who has ever played the game. In his 30s at Leeds in a team way below the quality of his Wigan days he dragged up standards by the example he set. Nearly every game he made the most metres and completed the most tackles. He was simply the greatest player UK rugby has seen in the post war era. If he had player longer in the NRL he would be in the top 3 of all time over yhere as well.

Re: Hanley : Wed Mar 03, 2021 11:39 am  

Shabino wrote:

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

He just liked his ladies mate. Wasn't unknown for him to have one leaving by the back door when one arrived at the front

Re: Hanley : Wed Mar 03, 2021 1:14 pm  

rollin thunder wrote:

Tompkins.

Stopped reading here.

Re: Hanley : Wed Mar 03, 2021 4:08 pm  

was a phenomenal player for us even past his prime and after that horrific broken jaw he took off Andy Dannatt right at the start, he was the shining light of Laughton's Leeds side that had some proper class in it and would have won a few trophies were it not for That Wigan team. posting over 30 tries a season in your mid 30's... as a forward. unreal.

in my opinion he is the best ever, 86-90 untouchable.

Re: Hanley : Wed Mar 03, 2021 4:16 pm  

The Ghost of '99 wrote:

Here's the team from that day -
Tait
Fallon
Irving
Innes
Fawcett
Schofield
Gregory
Molloy
Lowes
O'Neill
Dixon
Mercer
Hanley

Holroyd
Anderson

There's I reckon at least eight quite or really good players in there (plus some not very good admittedly) but at least 10 of that 15 played their best rugby league away from Leeds. Which sums up the era.

i was at that game, awful day.think the upgrades made on that side for the following two seasons to that, which included Iro, Eyres, Flymo, Cummins, Howard made us a fantastic side to watch at times; when we were on it was truly a pleasure and provided some of my best ever memories of watching Leeds despite the lack of success.