By PETER JESSUP
There's huge mutual respect between the teacher-and-pupil rival coaches guiding the Parramatta Eels and the New Zealand Warriors tomorrow.
"Awesome," is how Warriors coach Daniel Anderson describes the ability of his former boss at the Eels, Brian Smith.
Smith said the Warriors were probably the most consistent team in the competition after four games.
"They're the big improvers this season. They're the only side to have played four very good, competitive games."
What does he expect from the bloke who was his assistant last season, and does he expect it to be Smith-style?
"Daniel's his own man - he will bring something different and do his own thing," the Eels coach said yesterday.
Anderson was at the club as a talent scout and development officer before Smith joined in 1996. Anderson moved up to coach the Eels' first-division side, who won their championship in 1999, and then worked with the premiers, who finished fifth last year.
Smith is known to run a tight ship, with all the juniors schooled in his style and technique, and all lower-grade coaches required to instil the Smith system so that when players moved up to premiership level they know what is expected.
Of Anderson's involvement, Smith said: "I like to think we put together a very good structure at Parramatta and Daniel was a part of it. It's not me, it's we."
Anderson: "The basic skills are taught in the same way to everyone from under-16s up - how to hold the ball, how to pass, how to catch, how to tackle. So you don't have to re-teach them when they go to higher levels."
The Eels have 5000 juniors (around 400 of those of New Zealand extraction) and that was the strength of the club's top sides, he said.
The talent in New Zealand is similar, but the intensity levels are lower.
Kevin Campion's arrival from Brisbane had been an eye-opener to some Warriors, Anderson said.
Fitness work is harder, faster and organised in games to relieve the boredom.
"It's definitely plausible to have the same standard here, but we have to improve coaching and skill development levels dramatically."
Smith was very open in his approach, Anderson said, passing on what he knew freely, never playing cards close to his chest or playing politics.
"I learned a lot from him, and I have an enormous amount of respect for him."
Smith wished Anderson well when the latter left for Auckland and gave his star student a few pointers before the interview for the job.
"Daniel showed he had a spirit of adventure in giving up a steady job to take on the coaching role and the uncertainty and pressure that goes with it," Smith said. "He showed that again in shifting to Auckland, and certainly everyone at Parramatta - not just me - wished him well when he went.
"He's a nice bloke. We weren't close friends, but we were good mates."
Anderson was relaxed this week as he built towards the scrap with his former boss. He knows what to expect from them and did not even bother to watch the video of the Eels' thumping in Newcastle last weekend.
"The Eels have an interchangeable attacking style that changes according to the perceived weaknesses of the opposition," he said. "So there's no patterns. It's better to concentrate on getting your own house in order."
The loss to Newcastle would mean little, Anderson said, and Smith would not have focused on it in training this week.
"You don't have to say too much to professionals. I know they'll be fired up this week because they will want to make amends. They are in front of their home crowd. They won't want to lose two in a row."
Smith confirmed that he did not say much.
"I don't need to pick them up - they do that themselves. It's direction they need from me. Sometimes games like that can be good for you - it's ugly when it happens but if you learn your lessons, you often learn them faster and better than in any other way."
Anderson expected the Eels to run plays up the middle with their speedsters Brett Hodgson from fullback, hooker Brad Drew from dummy-half, Jason Moodie off his wing.
He felt sure they would attack the right-side defence, pressuring Stacey Jones and Richie Blackmore, as every side had this season, and that they would run at Cliff Beverley.
And the predictions?
Anderson: "They are definitely not unbeatable. We've got plans, areas where we think we might get rewards. We've got to get a fair share of possession, and hold on to it."
Smith: "What I know is that after the game we'll shake hands and one of us will be very disappointed."
New Zealand Warriors: Ivan Cleary, Henry Fa'afili, Richie Blackmore, David Myles, Francis Meli, Cliff Beverley, Stacey Jones (c), Jerry SeuSeu, Jason Death, Ali Lauiti'iti, Logan Swann, Awen Guttenbeil, Kevin Campion (c); interchange: Clinton Toopi, Monty Betham, Justin Morgan, Richard Villasanti, Nathan Wood (one to be omitted).
Parramatta Eels: Brett Hodgson, Pat Richards, Michael Buettner, David Vaeliki, Jason Moodie, Daniel Wagon, Jason Taylor, Alex Chan, Brad Drew, David Westley, Nathan Cayless (c), Ian Hindmarsh, Nathan Hindmarsh; interchange: Daniel Irvine, Jamie Lyon, Michael Vella, Andrew Ryan, David Solomona (one to be omitted).
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