AIRLIE RISER

Ex-GB star Ellis feels at ease

- DAVE CRAVEN

HAVING excelled throughout his rugby league career, being told he was not wanted by Hull boss Tony Smith floored Gareth Ellis.

The assistant coach, who had earned legendary status for the Black and Whites as the first captain to lead them to Wembley glory, was not sure how to take the news.

And the ex-Great Britain star rated the world's best second row in his heyday did not know what to do next. Ör what his next career step would be.

But, in his first interview since it was announced the 42-year-old would leave at the end of the season, Ellis admits, for the first time since finally retiring as a player in 2020, he feels at ease at last.

He said: "It is a weird one. Initially when Tony pulled me to one side and said he was not going around with me again, I felt, 'S***, what am I going to do?'