BrisbaneRhino Posted January 3, 2021 Share Posted January 3, 2021 Hanley is the only British player I would hand on heart argue as being worthy of being included in a World 13 from when I started watching in 1981. He was a pretty good centre and then had that absolutely stunning season at Bradford - scored 55 tries at a time when the top tryscorer was usually a winger with somewhere around 30. Then transformed into the best loose forward in the world at Wigan, and even over 30 in an underperforming Leeds team broke the record for tries by a forward. Funnily enough my favourite Hanley performances were in losing cup games whilst at Bradford - the semi v Featherstone in 1983 where he scored that long range try, and in 1985 when they ran Wigan all the way at Odsal (I think the final score was 8-4 or something with Hanley scoring an obligatory try). He went head-to-head with Brett Kenny and lost nothing in comparison. I also have a soft spot for someone else mentioned in this thread - Henderson Gill. He played for Wigan in the first game I ever saw in 1981. Leeds won but I still remember being as mesmerized as the Leeds defence by Gill bouncing around in all directions. I thought he was the most amazing winger ever. Until I saw Des Drummond rip us apart later in the season.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M j M Posted January 3, 2021 Share Posted January 3, 2021 5 hours ago, BrisbaneRhino said: - the semi v Featherstone in 1983 where he scored that long range try, Since it's not been posted in this thread yet here's that little bit of RL porn. I never tire of watching this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wigan Riversider Posted January 3, 2021 Share Posted January 3, 2021 13 hours ago, Bedfordshire Bronco said: Sam Burgess, Sir Kev and Peacock's faces and names are known amongst 'sports fans' down this way (basing this on non RL specific work/pub colleagues)...... Not sure many would be able to connect the names to faces but there you go... . Peacock from his CC stuff for the Beeb probably .... A lot would again know the face of Nobby/Robbie-Paul too Among my RU team mates about a third are nailed on RL fans.... SL and NRL.... All mostly southern with some Irish/Welsh chucked in For all the lamenting people do on here about the 90s Wigan side being the last time RL was known nationally - I just don't think it's true.....whenever I bring up with new non rugby people I'm a RL fan they are as likely to bring up the Rhinos period of dominance as much as Wigan's. Terrestrial CC games and internationals make a mark down here, loads of people watch and talk to me about it who are not 'rugby' fans. Plenty that enjoy the weekend Sky NRL stuff too This is despite ALL sport's personalities becoming less visible/well known in the general publics view in my opinion..... I'd wager most people would know have known a lot of the faces in the England soccer team in say 2004......i bet the general public would be much less likely to know as many now We need to stop beating ourselves up.... RL is an amazing sport/spectacle/drama...... Class will prevail. We will survive and thrive long long into the future Remember it's TGG I think you are correct but, sorry, I think the RL administration is shocking in the northern hemisphere. Happy New Year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Moore Posted January 3, 2021 Share Posted January 3, 2021 8 hours ago, BrisbaneRhino said: Hanley is the only British player I would hand on heart argue as being worthy of being included in a World 13 from when I started watching in 1981. He was a pretty good centre and then had that absolutely stunning season at Bradford - scored 55 tries at a time when the top tryscorer was usually a winger with somewhere around 30. Then transformed into the best loose forward in the world at Wigan, and even over 30 in an underperforming Leeds team broke the record for tries by a forward. Funnily enough my favourite Hanley performances were in losing cup games whilst at Bradford - the semi v Featherstone in 1983 where he scored that long range try, and in 1985 when they ran Wigan all the way at Odsal (I think the final score was 8-4 or something with Hanley scoring an obligatory try). He went head-to-head with Brett Kenny and lost nothing in comparison. I also have a soft spot for someone else mentioned in this thread - Henderson Gill. He played for Wigan in the first game I ever saw in 1981. Leeds won but I still remember being as mesmerized as the Leeds defence by Gill bouncing around in all directions. I thought he was the most amazing winger ever. Until I saw Des Drummond rip us apart later in the season.... Hanley is the best for me because he was genuinely world class in a number of positions. Not "well he can play there as well", genuinely world class. Out of every player I've seen in either code, if you offered me one player to build a team round, I'd take Hanley. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wigan Riversider Posted January 3, 2021 Share Posted January 3, 2021 8 hours ago, BrisbaneRhino said: Hanley is the only British player I would hand on heart argue as being worthy of being included in a World 13 from when I started watching in 1981. He was a pretty good centre and then had that absolutely stunning season at Bradford - scored 55 tries at a time when the top tryscorer was usually a winger with somewhere around 30. Then transformed into the best loose forward in the world at Wigan, and even over 30 in an underperforming Leeds team broke the record for tries by a forward. Funnily enough my favourite Hanley performances were in losing cup games whilst at Bradford - the semi v Featherstone in 1983 where he scored that long range try, and in 1985 when they ran Wigan all the way at Odsal (I think the final score was 8-4 or something with Hanley scoring an obligatory try). He went head-to-head with Brett Kenny and lost nothing in comparison. I also have a soft spot for someone else mentioned in this thread - Henderson Gill. He played for Wigan in the first game I ever saw in 1981. Leeds won but I still remember being as mesmerized as the Leeds defence by Gill bouncing around in all directions. I thought he was the most amazing winger ever. Until I saw Des Drummond rip us apart later in the season.... Wonderful post by someone who shares my view. I was at Odsal and could not believe that Ellery played Brett Kenny off the park. I was terrified everytime Ellery touched the ball. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Rocket Posted January 3, 2021 Share Posted January 3, 2021 16 hours ago, Bedfordshire Bronco said: Sam Burgess, Sir Kev and Peacock's faces and names are known amongst 'sports fans' down this way (basing this on non RL specific work/pub colleagues)...... Not sure many would be able to connect the names to faces but there you go... . Peacock from his CC stuff for the Beeb probably .... A lot would again know the face of Nobby/Robbie-Paul too Among my RU team mates about a third are nailed on RL fans.... SL and NRL.... All mostly southern with some Irish/Welsh chucked in For all the lamenting people do on here about the 90s Wigan side being the last time RL was known nationally - I just don't think it's true.....whenever I bring up with new non rugby people I'm a RL fan they are as likely to bring up the Rhinos period of dominance as much as Wigan's. Terrestrial CC games and internationals make a mark down here, loads of people watch and talk to me about it who are not 'rugby' fans. Plenty that enjoy the weekend Sky NRL stuff too This is despite ALL sport's personalities becoming less visible/well known in the general publics view in my opinion..... I'd wager most people would know have known a lot of the faces in the England soccer team in say 2004......i bet the general public would be much less likely to know as many now We need to stop beating ourselves up.... RL is an amazing sport/spectacle/drama...... Class will prevail. We will survive and thrive long long into the future Remember it's TGG You have made posts similar to this in the past and for someone who follows League in your country from afar and all too often gets the dispiriting impression that Rugby League is completely invisible to any one not from Yorkshire or Lancashire it is very heartening. It also makes me think with a bit of luck and good planning there are League fans out there waiting to be given a local club to support in the Super League. We just have to make it happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wigan Riversider Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 One of Ellery's great tries was in the first test in Sydney on the 1988 GB tour. He was not happy afterwards when interviewed on the pitch. Neither was I as we should have won. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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