Steve Ella facts for kids

Stephen John Ella, born on July 28, 1960, is a famous Australian former rugby league player. He played in the 1970s and 1980s. Steve was a versatile player, meaning he could play many positions in the backline. He played for the Parramatta Eels, New South Wales, and the Australian national team. He even played in four international matches for Australia. Steve is also related to the famous Ella brothers, who were big names in rugby union during the same time.

Playing for Clubs

Steve Ella played for the Parramatta Eels for ten years. He could play almost any position in the team's backline. He mostly played as a centre (centre) or a five-eighth (five-eighth).

People called Steve the "Zip Zip Man." He was part of Parramatta's amazing backline in the early 1980s. This team included stars like Brett Kenny, Mick Cronin, Peter Sterling, and Eric Grothe, Sr.. Because Brett Kenny and Peter Sterling were such a strong duo, Steve often played in the centres. There, he and Mick Cronin made a very powerful team.

Steve helped Parramatta win four Grand Finals. These wins happened in 1981, 1982, 1983, and 1986. He also played in the 1984 Grand Final, but his team lost to the Canterbury-Bankstown team. Steve scored a try in both the 1981 and 1982 Grand Final wins. These were against the Newtown and Manly-Warringah teams.

After scoring 79 tries for Parramatta between 1981 and 1985, Steve went to England. He played for Wigan during the 1985–86 season. He scored twelve tries in 23 games there. He played five-eighth (stand-off) in a game where Wigan beat New Zealand 14–8. This match was in Wigan on October 6, 1985. He also played five-eighth, scored two tries, and was named "man of the match" in a big win against Warrington. This was in the 1985 Lancashire Cup Final on October 13, 1985. Steve also played five-eighth in another win against Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1985–86 John Player Special Trophy Final on January 11, 1986.

When Steve Ella came back to Parramatta in 1986, he started having bad luck with injuries. He hurt his hand and then his shoulder. This shoulder injury kept coming back. Doctors found damage to his shoulder, and he had to miss many games. He worked hard to get better and played in his fourth premiership win. But in 1987, his shoulder slipped again, and he missed the rest of that season. He had more surgeries to fix his shoulder.

Steve returned for the 1988 season and played well for Parramatta. He finished his career in 1989 as the captain of Wakefield Trinity in England. He tried to play for Parramatta again in 1989, but injuries stopped him. A specialist told him not to risk further damage to his shoulder. So, Steve announced his retirement in July, just before his 29th birthday.

Games Played for Clubs

Club Records

Steve Ella scored 544 points for Parramatta in 156 games. This puts him in third place for the most points scored for the club. In 1982, he scored the most tries in the season. He also set a club record with 23 tries in one season. This record stood until Semi Radradra scored 24 tries in 2015. Steve scored 92 tries for Parramatta in his career. This places him fourth on the club's all-time try-scoring list. Only Jarryd Hayne, Brett Kenny, and Luke Burt scored more.

Playing for His State and Country

Steve Ella played seven State of Origin games for New South Wales. These games were between 1983 and 1985.

He was first chosen for the Blues in Game 1 of the 1983 State of Origin series. This game was in Brisbane. Steve was supposed to start, but the coach changed his mind. Steve came on later in the game and scored a try. Even though New South Wales lost, Steve showed his skill. He then played in the centres with Mick Cronin for Game 2 in Sydney. He scored another try in their 10–6 win. That game was special because most of the New South Wales backline were Parramatta players.

Steve also played in Game 1 and 3 of 1984. He played in all three games of 1985. In 1985, the Blues finally won the series against Queensland.

At the national level, Steve was chosen for the 1982 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France. He played in twelve smaller games during this tour. He did not play in any official Test matches then. However, in a game against Wales in Cardiff, Steve scored four tries. This tied the record for an Australian player in an international game. On the same tour, in France, he scored seven tries against Aquitaine. This tied a record set by Cec Blinkhorn in the 1920s.

Steve Ella played his first official Test match for Australia in 1983. This was against New Zealand. He missed the 1984 Ashes Series. But he returned to the Test team for the three-game series against New Zealand in 1985. This was the last time Steve played for Australia.

Steve also played two games for NSW City. His first game for City was in 1983. He played five-eighth and scored a try in their win over NSW Country. His last game for City was in 1985, where he also played five-eighth in another win.

Where is Steve Ella Now?

As of February 2023, Steve Ella works at Gosford Hospital. He leads the Aboriginal Health Service there.