Rugby League: Anderson adds steel to pack

He's the big unit who's hard to stop, making a habit of timing his runs at opposition defenders to perfection.
But it's timing on a slightly grander scale that is paying off for Brendon Anderson and a resurgent Tauranga Whalers this season.
Anderson was his typical bullocking self on Saturday as the Whalers backed up their shock 16-4 defeat of Ngaruawahia the previous week with a lop-sided 36-14 win over Rotorua strugglers Central at Waipuna Park.
Rumours Anderson had retired from the game after the Eels' championship win last season were incorrect.
He'd simply taken his hulking frame over the harbour bridge to bolster the Whalers - for this season at least and possibly beyond.
While the Eels could have used Anderson's uncompromising, hard-charging style again this year after losing most of their pack (he is, after all, a founding member of the club), it's no stretch saying the Whalers have benefited more from his presence.
A unfit, unorganised rabble last year, their season typified by some fearsome drubbings, Anderson's arrival - and that of player/coach Paul Pou - has injected new life into the club.
Anderson isn't a massive talker on the field but his do-as-I-do leadership style is precisely the right prescription for the Whalers as they re-build credibility.
Otumoetai Eels coach Brett Rogers was an interested spectator on Saturday at Waipuna Park, his side's clash with the Hamilton Hornet deferred.
As much as he'd love to have Anderson at his club again this season, even he admits what Anderson and Pou have added to the Whalers, giving the city a second legitimate club side, is good for the game here.
Whalers were impressive against Central, ramming home eight tries against a side where tackling was take-it-or-leave it - so mostly they left it.
Whalers are starting to build momentum - there was even talk floating around of a push into the competition's top four - but Anderson's too wily a competitor to talk up the club's playoffs chances with six round-robin games left.
For him, it's baby steps.
"We seem to have got on a bit of a roll, and we spoke this week about backing up from last week, but it was still far from perfect so we'll go away with plenty to work on.
"There's a lot of teams asking questions about that win over Ngaruawahia, scratching their heads at how we did it, but we want to show we're not one-hit wonders. Central came here fairly even with us on the ladder so we needed a strong performance to prove we're the dominant side out of the two."
In front of a healthy crowd, Whalers built at 18-10 halftime lead on the back of tries to Danny Tonga, Charles Nepia, Rick Colley and Carl Sullivan. Anderson, Darryl Thomas, Hamish Newlands and Anaru Taute crossed the chalk in an even more dominant second half, one where the backs added some razzle-dazzle to the hard graft from the forwards.
Support is building for the Whalers and you get the feeling Anderson is enjoying the father-like status at his new club, which is benefited from an influx of rugby players new to league.
"I've probably arrived at the right time because I've been able to help train these guys and teach them some league skills."
One of the Whalers' work-ons this week will be their goal-kicking - they could have nudged 50 points on Saturday but succeeded with just two goals from eight attempts, chewing through six different kickers.
Scorers:
Tauranga Whalers 36 (Danny Tonga, Charles Nepia, Rick Colley, Carl Sullivan, Brendan Anderson, Darryl Thomas, Hamish Newlands, Anaru Taute tries; Thomas goal, Taute goal) Central 14 (William Cook, Jaya Vasua, Pesini Tavake tries; Chase Iraira goal) Halftime: 18-10.
Other games: Taniwharau 42 Turangawaewae 10, Pikiao 6 Ngaruawahia 28, Hukanui 14 Pacific 42, College Old Boys 34 Ngongotaha 32, Otumoetai v Hamilton Hornets deferred, Hamilton City Tigers, Taupo byes.