Matty Johns

As a spectator growing up, my favourite two years were 88 and 89.

Talk about 88 season first.

And it was you blokes who had risen through the mid-80s and 80s

Warren comes in and suddenly, I remember halfway through the season in 88, Israel just a little bit off the pace.

And all of a sudden they bought a bloke, Ellery Hanley, who...

Although a big name amongst blokes who really knew their rugby league, he wasn't celebrated like he should have been.

Mate, that all changed.

By the time he left Tigers, he was the best player in the world by far.

What was it like when he walked into that club?

mate he was unbelievable remember his first touch he was playing manly I think in his first game I still remember it I'm sitting watching the game you know the six o'clock game and Rex Mossop's commentating and we're all going mate Hanley what is this bloke and he was wearing the three and he just unorthodox he wandered in the field picked the ball off the dummy half acted he was going to go one way took off the other mate threw off about five blows and remember Rex Mossop goes this bloke Hanley doesn't know when he's tackled and it was just every single game when you needed something you

He grabbed it for you.

They told me he used to like just run 400s for fun.

Yuck.

400, yuck.

That is not funny.

Oh, yuck.

We'll talk about one of the most probably painful things, not just in your career, but, mate, I reckon when you look back in your life, you'd be going like, it still hurts.

Yes.

That amazing run you's made.

And then I think you used to play mainly at Brookie, and you got done for a high shot.