Hanley may stay in Aust.

Press, 24 August 1988, Page 47

Hanley may stay in Aust.

NZPA-Reuter Sydney Britain’s rugby league Test captain, Ellery Hanley, enjoys the hard and fast Australian game so much he is considering staying in Sydney. "I have not re-signed with Wigan and will stay in Australia if I get a comparable offer,” Hanley told reporters after helping his adopted Sydney club, Balmain, to yet another victory at the weekend.

However, Bob Abbott, the general manager of the Australian Rugby League, said that local clubs would have to pay a substantial transfer fee to Wigan for Hanley’s service.

The “Black Pearl,” as the explosive British utility is known, has become one of the most feared players in

the local competition. Playing at centre with competition heavyweights Balmain, Hanley said he wanted to quit football in Britain and sign a three-year contract to play in Sydney. “My contract expires in England in two weeks time and I’d like to sign a threeyear deal in Sydney. It would mean I’d have to give football away in England because you can’t play to the best of your ability for 12 months nonstop,” he said. “I really enjoy playing here on the hard and fast grounds. It’s much better than the muddy conditions back home,” Hanley said. The explosiveness, strength and speed that propelled Hanley to superstardom in

the international football arena are now mesmerising Australian fans and players alike.

In the space of just four weeks, in arguably the world’s toughest league competition, Hanley has beconie one of the best players and biggest drawcards here. He is undoubtedly the most popular British league player ever to set foot in Australia. Fans hold placards saying “Ellery Rules,” and- mob their new-found hero after every contest. Hanley may be the world’s most expensive league footballer, but with the skills he has displayed in Australia, local clubs are unlikely to think twice about the signing fees.