Down memory lane…Englishman Ellery Hanley in the Leichhardt Oval scoreboard.Credit:Steve Christo
Hanley will be in Sydney for three weeks. His most famous stint with Balmain didn't last much longer. But it sure was an eventful one;having joined the club late in the 1988 season,he played eight games,helping the Tigers into the grand final against Canterbury.
He says now that his first stint with Balmain - he played again in 1996-97 - was''one of the greatest feats I've been involved with''.
Hanley with old Tigers teammate Ben Elias.Credit:Steve Christo
It also included one of the most infamous moments in grand finals;Hanley,the Great Britain international,was taken out off the ball by Bulldogs five-eighth Terry Lamb. He played no further part in the game,which the Tigers lost.
''I've never ever watched the game,''he said.''I've been told different versions of what happened. I have no malice towards Terry Lamb. It's just one of those things,what happens on a football paddock. You've just got to move on. It was just unfortunate it happened that particular time because we had a wonderful run.
''It probably rocked the boat a little,but even if I had stayed on,there was no guarantee that we would have won the football game because they had a good team as well.''
Hanley has not spoken to Lamb since,but it is likely that at some stage during his visit to Sydney that the pair will cross paths.