Steve Ella facts for kids

Stephen John Ella (born 28 July 1960) is a former Australian rugby league star who played in the 1970s and 1980s. He was known for his speed and skill as a utility back. This means he could play well in many different positions.

Ella played for famous teams like the Parramatta Eels, the New South Wales Blues, and the Australian national team. He is related to the famous Ella brothers, who were stars in rugby union.

A Star Player for the Parramatta Eels

Steve Ella, nicknamed the "Zip Zip Man" for his incredible speed, played for the Parramatta Eels for ten years. He was a key part of one of the best teams in rugby league history.

He played alongside other legends like Brett Kenny, Mick Cronin, Peter Sterling, and Eric Grothe, Sr.. Because Kenny and Sterling were a famous duo in the half positions, Ella often played in the centres. There, he and Mick Cronin became one of the most successful scoring pairs in the league.

Winning Championships

With Ella on the team, the Parramatta Eels won four championships, called Premierships. They won in 1981, 1982, 1983, and 1986. He even scored a try in the 1981 and 1982 Grand Final games. The team also made it to the Grand Final in 1984 but lost to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.

Playing in England

During the Australian off-season in 1985–86, Ella played in England for the Wigan team. He continued to show his amazing talent, scoring 12 tries in 23 games. He helped Wigan win two major trophies: the Lancashire Cup and the John Player Special Trophy. In the Lancashire Cup Final, he scored two tries and was named the man of the match.

Career Challenges and Retirement

In 1986, Ella faced some tough challenges with injuries. A serious shoulder injury kept him from playing for much of the 1987 season. He had to have surgery to fix the damage.

He made a strong comeback in 1988 and played very well for Parramatta. He finished his career in England as the captain of Wakefield Trinity. After returning to Australia, doctors advised him to retire to avoid further injury. He officially retired in July 1989, just before his 29th birthday.

Career Records and Stats

Steve Ella was a fantastic scorer for the Eels.

• He scored 544 points in his career with Parramatta. This makes him one of the top point-scorers in the club's history.
• In 1982, he scored 23 tries in a single season. This was a club record that stood for over 30 years.
• He scored a total of 92 tries for Parramatta, placing him among the club's all-time greatest try-scorers.

Playing for his State and Country

Besides his club success, Ella was also a star on the representative stage. He played for both his state, New South Wales, and his country, Australia.

State of Origin Hero

Ella played seven games for New South Wales in the famous State of Origin series. This series is a fierce rivalry between New South Wales and Queensland.

In his first game in 1983, he came off the bench and scored a try. He was a key player in the Blues' first-ever series win in 1985. His speed and skill were a huge advantage for his team.

Representing Australia

Ella was chosen to play for the Australian national team. In 1982, he toured Great Britain and France. On that tour, he showed his amazing scoring ability.

• He scored four tries in one game against Wales.
• In another game in France, he scored an incredible seven tries.

He played four official Test matches for Australia between 1983 and 1985. Playing for your country is one of the highest honours in rugby league, and Ella proved he was one of the best.

Life After Rugby League

Steve is a proud Yuin man. For more than 20 years, he has worked as a health counsellor, helping people in his community. As of early 2023, he leads the Aboriginal Health Service at Gosford Hospital.