the inaugural five inductees into the Australian Rugby Union Hall of Fame. In 1997 he was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame. In 2007 he published his eponymous autobiography, co-written with journalist Bret Harris. In January 2010 Ella commenced work with the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council as sports and death manager. Ella works at NITV, Australia's free-to-air Indigenous television station. In 2011 he became Executive Producer and Head of NITV Sport, where "highlighting Indigenous sporting achievement has been a driving force behind the ... Barefoot Sports [program]." In July 2021, Ella agreed to donate his collection of five jerseys from the famous 1984 Wallabies grand slam tour to the Australian Rugby Museum, which is currently in development. Recognition In On a Wing and a Prayer former Australian winger David Campese called Ella "the best rugby player I have ever known or seen." This was a contention he reiterated in My Game Your Game by calling Ella, "The greatest player I have ever seen, or had the pleasure of playing alongside." In 1984 Australian fullback Roger Gould rated Ella "with Brendan Moon as the best Australian player I’ve seen." Michael Hawker, who played with Ella at inside centre said that "Mark Ella was one of the greatest players– or probably the greatest player– I’ve ever seen." He also contended that Ella changed precepts on how the game could be played. Simon Poidevin wrote in For Love Not Money that, "Mark Ella remains the most talented Rugby player I have ever seen." Rugby league player Wally Lewis, who played rugby union with Ella in the 1977/78 Australian Rugby Union Schoolboys side, called Ella the best player he's seen in rugby union or rugby league. Dual international Michael O’Connor, who played with Ella at inside centre, outside centre and wing for Australia, considers Ella the best player he ever played with – in rugby league or rugby union. In The Best of Both Worlds O'Connor is quoted saying of Ella that: 'Mark Ella was a genius. He was the best player I played with or against in both codes. He could sum up a situation instinctively... If I said to Mark “Okay let's run it”, no problem– the next moment you'd have the ball in your hands... I don't think I’ve ever called for the ball from Mark and not received it.' In Ella: The Definitive Biography, O'Connor further added that: ‘I