Ellery Hanley

Ellery Hanley is a former professional rugby footballer and former coach of Great Britain and European clubs St Helens, RFC, and Doncaster RLFC. Considered as the greatest British Rugby player ever, he played mostly as five-eighth or in a loose forward position.

Ellery Hanley who won the Man of Steel award for a record three times has an estimated net worth of around  £25 million. Furthermore, the hunk has an illegitimate daughter, Maria Hanley. 

Ellery Hanley Salary and Net worth

As of 2021, Ellery Hanley total net worth could be assumed to be around  £25 million pounds as he was the most sought rugby player by clubs teams all over the world in his time.

Hanley signed his first professional contract with Bradford with the salary believed to be about £2,000 a year.

During 1985, Hanley signed with Wigan for £85,000 which later increased to £150,000. Three years later in 1988, he was signed for then record fee of £350,000. In the September of 1991, he was a player and coach for Leeds for  £250,000 and received £150,000 yearly for 3 years as salary.

Is Ellery Hanley Married?

According to reports, Hanley has an illegitimate daughter, Maria Hanley, from a woman Nicola Sotiropoulos whom the rugby legend met in a nightclub in Liverpool. As per various sources, he doesn't to be connected with his daughter.

A legendary  British rugby player nicknamed “Black Pearl “ by his fans can be argued as the best rugby player as  Alex Ferguson is considered the best coach in the game of football. Ellery Hanley like Australian Rugby Coaching greats like Wayne Bennett, Allan Langer, and Wally Lewis was a successful coach of rugby but his personal life is not concealed by the media.

Besides this, he is a relative of another British icon, boxer, and powerlifter, Jay Jay Oakey. He made an appearance in  Dance on Stars a  British TV Series, where he was one of the celebrities taking part along with British skater, Frankie Poultney.

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Ellery Hanley Bio and Early life

Ellery Hanley, British nationality of Jamaican ethnicity was born on 27 March 1961 in Leeds, West Riding Yorkshire, England. 

Ellery Hanley Professional Club Career

Rugby Legend Ellery Hanley started his career with club Corpus Christi where he played his junior career.

Bradford Northern

Hanley then signed a contract with Bradford Northern in 1978. On 26 November 1978, he made his professional debut for the club and helped to win the match with his debut goal.

He appeared 126 times scoring 89 tries with the club. He played for 7 years and left the club in 1985.

Wigan

In 1985, the rugby icon signed with Wigan as part of an exchange deal between Bradford Northern and Wigan.

 The club proved to be his most successful career move as he displays his extraordinary skills and remarkable brilliance on the field helping the club to win World Cup Challenge in 1987, Challenge Cup to three consecutive titles ( 1988 to 1990), and various other championships.

With the club, during his five-year stay, he scored 189 tries in 202 matches.

Balmain

Due to his great showing in Wigan, Hanley was offered a contract and later signed with Australian Club, Sydney-based, Balmain Tigers alongside other Australian Rugby Greats like Wayne Pearce, Garry Jack, Paul Sironen made up a formidable team.

Western Suburbs

In 1989, the British international was moved to  Western Suburbs. He scored four tries in 13 games in his only season for the club.

Leeds

In September 1991, he was appointed the captain and coach of the club. During his time he leads the team to two consecutive final Challenge Cup( 1993 to 1995).

Balmain

Rugby Great, Ellery Hanley returned back to the Australian club for his second and final stint as a player.

Ellery Hanley National Career

He made his debut as a substitute against France in January 1984. He was the captain of the victorious  Great Britain Squad during the 1988 Ashes Series. He contributed with eight tries in the series.

He was the first non-English captain to lead the squad and in total, he made 34 appearances for Great Britain.

Ellery Hanley Coaching Career

After a successful playing career, he coached and managed several rugby clubs like St Helens, Doncaster to several successful campaigns. He also once coaches the Great Britain Rugby Squad and several Australian Rugby Leagues.

Ellery Hanley Awards and Recognition

Ellen Hanley is a British Rugby Legend. He was honored with an MBE title by the queen for his services and contribution to sports, rugby in January 1990.

In addition, he was awarded the following honors and awards:

• Three times Man of Steel Award Winner(1985, 87,89)
• Golden Boot (1988)
• Lance Trophy(1989)
• Rugby Football Hall of Fame(2005)
• Wigan Hall of Fame(2007)