It was only the presence of five-eighth Kenny and the partnership he had with halfback Sterling that saw Ella play most of his first grade games in the centres where alongside Cronin he formed the NSWRL premiership's most lethal pairing.
He played stand-off in the 14–8 victory over New Zealand during the 1985 New Zealand rugby league tour of Great Britain and France at Central Park, Wigan on Sunday 6 October 1985,[3] played stand-off, scored two tries, and was man of the match in the 34–8 victory over Warrington in the 1985 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1985–86 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens, on Sunday 13 October 1985,[4] and played stand-off in the 18–4 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1985–86 John Player Special Trophy Final during the 1985–86 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday 11 January 1986.
[9] After an arthroscope revealed ligament damage in Ella's shoulder,[10] he missed five more games but an intensive course in physiotherapy allowed him to return and participate in a fourth premiership team before a full-scale off-season surgery.
[14] Steve Ella would return for the 1988 season and escape injuries, producing several very good displays for a struggling Parramatta team.
After a specialist advised him not to risk further damage to his shoulder,[16] Ella announced his retirement in July two weeks shy of his twenty-ninth birthday.
He was then selected in the centres alongside Mick Cronin for Game 2 at the Sydney Cricket Ground where he scored a try in the Blues' 10–6 triumph in muddy conditions for their sole win of the series.
That game was notable because other than fullback Marty Gurr from Eastern Suburbs, the entire NSW backline consisted of Parramatta players (Grothe and Hunt on the wings, Ella and Cronin in the centres and Kenny and Sterling the halves).
He retained his place in the side for Game 3 of the series in Brisbane, though Qld, led by their captain and Test 5/8 Wally Lewis outclassed NSW 43—22 after leading by 33—0 midway through the second half.