Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
David Craven

Ellery Hanley intends to make life "torrid" for Shaun Wane after surprise coaching return

Rugby league legend Ellery Hanley loves ex-Wigan team-mate Shaun Wane to bits but - after his shock return to coaching - fully intends making life “torrid” for the England boss.

Hall of Famer Hanley remains one of the sport’s finest-ever players following a trophy-laden career and he famously brought the Aussies to their knees as both captain and coach of Great Britain.

But now he will be plotting against his homeland after his surprise appointment as the Combined Nations All Stars chief for the mid-season international versus Wane’s England on June 18.

The pair were pack colleagues from the great Wigan team of the late 80s so it will be a fascinating prospect - especially as the last time Hanley coached a side was helping National League Two part-timers Doncaster to promotion in 2008.

However, he has retained a keen interest - “I’ve never really been away from coaching” - and, since 2019, has chaired the Steve Prescott Man of Steel panel.

Ellery Hanley intends to make life hard for close friend Shaun Wane after his coaching return (Mike Hewitt/ALLSPORT)

Getting Hanley, 60, on board brings real kudos to the fixture and he is backing his ability to get the best out of the All Stars team for their one-off game at Warrington.

But what about facing his old pal Wane from that iconic Wigan team that also included the likes of Shaun Edwards and Andy Gregory?

“I know everything about Shaun and how he plays the game,” said Hanley, who was offered the coaching role by All Stars team manager Carl Hall, his old boss at Doncaster.

“I know how he wants to play because he was a tough-nuggeted footie player and that’s what we needed on our side.

"I know Shaun inside out and he knows me as well.

Hanley was one of Leeds' biggest stars in the 90s before turning to coaching (Shaun Botterill/Allsport)

"He's brilliant in terms of the high levels he demands from his players. He was the same as a player and he's just moved over to the role in a tracksuit.

“I have the utmost respect for Shaun and love him to bits.

“But we're going to have a difficult, torrid time when it comes to those 80 minutes in June.”

Hanley replaces ex-Kangaroos boss Tim Sheens who helped the All Stars inflict a 26-24 loss on England in last year’s inaugural encounter - Wane’s first game in charge of the national side.

“It still hurts me from last year,” admitted Wane, who is using the fixture as his main preparation for this autumn’s home World Cup.

Shaun Wane is now England's head coach in a World Cup year (GETTY)

“That makes this game even bigger and it's bigger because it's against someone I respect.

“That's not to say I don't respect Tim Sheens but obviously I don't know him as well as I know Ellery.

"I have the utmost respect for what he's done and how he handles himself. I learned a lot from him as a player and still do now.

“He was the best player I ever played with, without a shadow of a doubt.

“But now I want to beat him."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.