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 still think he is the best player I played outside of. I enjoyed playing outside him. Such good service. Good, quick ball. You knew playing outside Mark something was on every time. Have a crack. You won’t die wondering.’