Been chatting on the Wigan board (yeah I know), about S. Tomkins being the best RL player I've seen in my time.
Alot of them saying Hanley. I know he played for us too.
What are peoples memories, and how good was he for us as I never really saw him...

Best player this country has ever produced for me.

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.

What a player then. Would love to have seen him live....

When Hanley one the Golden Boot there were no complaints from the Aussie press or players. That says a lot. I imagine he would be neck and neck with Alex Murphy (I know there are many others) for the greatest GB player of all time.

Tomkins is/was a very good player but the best you've seen?

Yeah. Easily since mid 90's that I've been watching. Has it all that lad.....

Tomkins indeed top ranking SL player but there are at least 20 players ahead of him in terms of best I've seen. He's never performed particularly well at international or NRL level.

Hanley is on a different universe to him, as he is most players. By far the best I've seen, even his time at Leeds was top quality.

Ellery was in his 30s when Leeds signed him, had been through some serious injuries, was past his best and for me was still the best player ive ever seen play for us.

What he must have been like to watch week in week out in his prime at Wigan must have been absolutely incredible.

As Batley says he was limited in some aspects of his game, he only ever really ran to his right, he wasnt a great passer of the ball but he was so strong, athletic and for mental toughness couldnt be matched

Whether you played in a cup final or against Hunslet in a friendly Hanley was focused and ready to play. He would tackle for 80 mins and was a true match winner regularly.

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.

When Dannatt broke his jaw at Hull Hanley was out for months, his 1st game back was against Saints at Knowsley Road. I remember thinking it will take time to get back into it. Leeds kicked off, Kevin Ward ran straight Hanley who dumped him on his backside. I remember thinking it didnt take him that long then. That was Ellery in a nutshell.

He was phenomenal every week. Just a true all time great. I believe i saw every game he played for Leeds and it was an honour to watch him.

Sam Tomkins in his prime was terrific, still good now. Hanley was different gravy tho. He was out of this world.

He was good, but no Dave Heron.

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

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

I liked when he went on Dancing On Ice

Proof that he really did walk on water.

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

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

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.

Danny McGuire is the best player ever.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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