Han with a plan
UMYLA OUT TO SHOW MATT WHO’S BOSS
IN-FORM Leigh winger Umyla Hanley never saw eye-to-eye with Wigan boss Matt Peet but aims to prove him wrong tonight.
He faces his former club for the first time since leaving 15 months ago.
Hanley, son of rugby league legend Ellery, came through the ranks at Warriors.
He was given his debut by Adrian Lam – now his Leopards boss – in 2020 and scored a hattrick against Leigh the following season in one of the Papuan’s final games in charge.
But Hanley barely got a look-in when assistant Peet (inset) was promoted to Wigan chief in 2022 playing just once for him.
Hanley had to bide his time at Leigh, too, but has shone since ex-England star Tom Briscoe was injured last month. The 22 year-old has scored eight tries in just four games, including hat-tricks in each of his last two outings against Featherstone and Salford.
And now he gets the chance to show the reigning World Club champions what they’re missing.
Hanley said: “I was at Wigan since I was 15. I went from scholarship to first team.
“But it just didn’t turn out how I wanted and I thought a move for me would be better.
“We [him and Peet] just didn’t see eye to eye. I hardly played again after that Leigh game. I didn’t see what I was doing wrong.
“It’s all turned out for the best. Matt’s a great coach. He was good when I was there: he spoke to me but Matty just clicks with different people.” Wigan are smarting after Good Friday’s 12-4 defeat at St Helens, their first league loss since July.
But Leigh are desperate to rally, too, having won just one of their five Super League games.
Hanley said: “Everyone knows Wigan and Leigh is a massive game especially to Leythers.”
Hanley has no relationship with his famous dad, one of the sport’s all-time greats who scored 189 tries in 204 Wigan appearances. He said: “I don’t see him. We don’t really get on. I’ve had my mum and that’s all I’ve needed: her and her side of the family have shown me all the support a dad could. I really wouldn’t be fussed if we never do speak.” Meanwhile, Wigan yesterday received a massive boost with Man of Steel Bevan French signing a new four-year deal.