Steve Ella
Encyclopedia
Steve Ella is an Australian former rugby league
footballer of the 1980s. He was a utility back for the Australian national team, playing in 4 Tests between 1983 and 1985. He is a cousin of the Ella brothers
who were prominent in Australian rugby union
in the 1980s.
playing at fullback, centre, wing, halfback and five eighth.
Nicknamed "The Zipzip Man" Ella was a member of Parramatta's star studded backlines of the early 1980s playing alongside Brett Kenny
, Mick Cronin
, Peter Sterling
and Eric Grothe
.
He was a member of four Premiership winning sides at Parramatta in 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1986 as well as the 1984 Grand Final
loss to Canterbury
. He played a season in England with Wigan
in 1985-86 scoring 21 tries in 23 games and finished his career in 1989 with Wakefield Trinity
. Ella did return to Parramatta for the 1989 season, but did not play a single game due to injury and announced his retirement in July two weeks shy of his twenty-ninth birthday.
on the club's all time try tally.
appearances between 1983 and 1985. He was first selected for the New South Wales Blues
in game II of 1983 where he scored a try in the Blues' sole win of the series. He figured in game III of 1983, games I and III of 1984 and in all three games of 1985 when the Blues finally had a series triumph over Queensland
.
At the national level, he was selected for the 1982 Kangaroo Tour
and appeared in twelve minor games though no Tests on that tour. In the tour match against Wales in Cardiff, Ella scored four tries equalling the record for an Australian in a full international. On that same tour in a game in France against Villeneuve he scored seven tries equalling a record set by Cec Blinkhorn
in the 1930s.
Steve Ella made his Test début for the Kangaroos against
New Zealand
in the 2nd Test of 1983 and played in three more Tests against them in 1985.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer of the 1980s. He was a utility back for the Australian national team, playing in 4 Tests between 1983 and 1985. He is a cousin of the Ella brothers
Mark Ella
Mark Gordon Ella is an Indigenous Australian former rugby union player, often considered as one of his country's all-time greats in that sport. In a relatively short career , Mark Ella established himself as one of the all-time greats in world rugby union...
who were prominent in Australian rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
in the 1980s.
Club career
Steve Ella had a ten year career with the Parramatta EelsParramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
playing at fullback, centre, wing, halfback and five eighth.
Nicknamed "The Zipzip Man" Ella was a member of Parramatta's star studded backlines of the early 1980s playing alongside Brett Kenny
Brett Kenny
Brett Kenny is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. He was a five-eighth for the Australian national team, the New South Wales Blues representative side and the Parramatta Eels. He played in 17 Tests, made 17 State of Origin appearances and won 4...
, Mick Cronin
Mick Cronin (rugby league)
Michael William "Mick" Cronin OAM is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He was a goal-kicking centre for the Australian national team and a stalwart for the Parramatta Eels club. He played in 22 Tests and 11 World Cup matches between 1973 and 1982...
, Peter Sterling
Peter Sterling
Peter Maxwell John "Sterlo" Sterling OAM is an Australian rugby league commentator and former player. He was one of the all-time great halfbacks and a major contributor to Parramatta Eels' dominance of the New South Wales Rugby League premiership in the 1980s. Sterling played nineteen Tests for...
and Eric Grothe
Eric Grothe, Sr.
Eric "Guru" Grothe is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 1980s. A New South Wales and Australian representative winger, he played club football for the Parramatta Eels with whom he won four NSWRL premierships...
.
He was a member of four Premiership winning sides at Parramatta in 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1986 as well as the 1984 Grand Final
Grand Final
Grand Final is a predominantly Australian sport term used to describe a match that decides a league champion.It originated in Victoria and South Australia and has become specifically significant Australian culture...
loss to Canterbury
Canterbury Bulldogs
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, as well as New South Wales Rugby League junior competitions...
. He played a season in England with Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
in 1985-86 scoring 21 tries in 23 games and finished his career in 1989 with Wakefield Trinity
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...
. Ella did return to Parramatta for the 1989 season, but did not play a single game due to injury and announced his retirement in July two weeks shy of his twenty-ninth birthday.
Club records and statistics
He scored 544 career points for Parramatta in 157 games putting him in 3rd place on the club's all time points list. In 1982 he was the season's top try-scorer and also set the standing club record of a total of 23 tries in a season. He scored 92 career tries for Parramatta placing him in 2nd place behind Brett KennyBrett Kenny
Brett Kenny is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. He was a five-eighth for the Australian national team, the New South Wales Blues representative side and the Parramatta Eels. He played in 17 Tests, made 17 State of Origin appearances and won 4...
on the club's all time try tally.
Representative career
Steve Ella made seven Rugby League State of OriginRugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
appearances between 1983 and 1985. He was first selected for the New South Wales Blues
New South Wales Rugby League team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
in game II of 1983 where he scored a try in the Blues' sole win of the series. He figured in game III of 1983, games I and III of 1984 and in all three games of 1985 when the Blues finally had a series triumph over Queensland
Queensland rugby league team
The Queensland rugby league team have represented the Australian state of Queensland in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1908...
.
At the national level, he was selected for the 1982 Kangaroo Tour
Kangaroo Tour
Kangaroo Tour is the name given to Australian national rugby league team tours of Great Britain and France. The first Kangaroo Tour was in 1908. Traditionally, Kangaroo Tours took place every four years and involved a three-Test Ashes series against Great Britain and a number of tour matches...
and appeared in twelve minor games though no Tests on that tour. In the tour match against Wales in Cardiff, Ella scored four tries equalling the record for an Australian in a full international. On that same tour in a game in France against Villeneuve he scored seven tries equalling a record set by Cec Blinkhorn
Cec Blinkhorn
Cecil Blinkhorn was an Australian rugby league footballer of the 1910s and 20s. He played in the NSWRFL premiership for the North Sydney and South Sydney clubs, and also represented New South Wales and Australia...
in the 1930s.
Steve Ella made his Test début for the Kangaroos against
New Zealand
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
in the 2nd Test of 1983 and played in three more Tests against them in 1985.
1st Grade matches
| Team | Matches | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Parramatta | 156 | 1980–1986 |
| Wigan | 23 | 1986–1987 |
| Wakefield | 4 | 1989 |
| New South Wales | 8 | 1952–1959 |
| Rest of the World | 1 | 1988 |
| Australia | 17 | 1982–1985 |
Sources
- Andrews, Malcolm (2006) The ABC of Rugby League Austn Broadcasting Corpn, Sydney
- NRL Official 2007 Season Guide, News Magazines Surry Hills Sydney, for the National Rugby League
External links
- State of Origin Official website Rugby League Player Stats
- http://www.brookvale-p.schools.nsw.edu.au/PROJECTS/Sports_Stars/Steve_Ella.html