24 Facts About Benny Elias

Ben Elias is an Australian former rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s.

Benny Elias played primarily as a hooker for Balmain in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership.

Benny Elias was one of the leading hookers from the mid-1980s until his retirement at the end of the 1994 season.

Benny Elias is the uncle of former Wests Tigers and now Parramatta Eels half back Mitchell Moses.

Benny Elias was born in 1963 in Lebanon to Barbara Benny Elias.

Benny Elias was a fan of rugby league from very young days and played his first rugby for Holy Cross College Ryde in the late 1970s as a halfback, representing Australia in the Schoolboys team from 1979 to 1981.

Benny Elias was graded by Balmain in 1981, and transferred quickly to the hooking position where he remained for the rest of his career.

Benny Elias was selected for the following year's Kangaroo Tour, which was undefeated through England and France, however Benny Elias was unable to displace Royce Simmons as the Test hooker.

Benny Elias was instrumental in Balmain's advancement to the NSWRL Grand Final against the Canterbury Bulldogs in 1988, despite experiencing a painful rib cartilage injury during the lead-up to the finals series.

Benny Elias was selected for the 1988 World Cup, and only a broken thumb kept him out of representative honours in 1989.

Benny Elias was back at his best in Balmain's surge to the Grand Final that year, narrowly missing a vital field-goal attempt in the second half of the overtime defeat by the Canberra Raiders, a game in which Steve Walters began to assert his dominance as one of leading hookers in the game at that time.

Benny Elias made 19 appearances for the New South Wales State of Origin team between 1985 and 1994 and was named man-of-the-match on 3 occasions.

Benny Elias played State of Origin with incredible passion and is remembered for his fiery clashes with Queensland hookers Kerrod and Steve Walters.

Benny Elias produced some of his best form during 1990, including:.

However, 1991 was largely plagued by injury as Alan Jones replaced Warren Ryan as Balmain coach, and though Benny Elias was fit again in 1992, he could not displace Steve Walters from his Test spot and had many competitors for the New South Wales jersey.

Benny Elias missed out on selection on the 1994 Kangaroo Tour, and at age 31, he announced his retirement as a player in December.

Benny Elias admitted on The NRL Footy Show on 19 July 2007, that during the 1986 Semi-final between Balmain and Souths at the SCG, he was successful in getting Fenech sent off when he bit his own hand and then claimed the bite was done by Fenech.

In 2000 Benny Elias was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his contribution to Australia's international standing in rugby league.

Benny Elias became the rugby league pundit for now defunct SBS Television 7pm weeknight sports program in the mid-2000s.

Benny Elias is currently a member of the Wests Tigers Board along with former teammate Paul Sironen.

Benny Elias is a member of the advisory board of the Perth Glory FC.

Benny Elias has two children and lives in Sydney, Australia.

Benny Elias has been involved in the controversial development of the Balmain Leagues Club site, owning a 50 per cent stake in the company behind the development while urging club members to support the proposal.

Benny Elias, who was ascribed Hall of Fame number 118, was amongst eleven male players in the 2024 Class.