Daniel Anderson doesn't plan too many immediate tweaks to the St Helens formula.
Daniel Anderson has promised evolution rather than revolution in his new job as the coach of St Helens.
The former New Zealand Kiwis coach began work at Knowsley Road yesterday in succession to the sacked Ian Millward, but said that he will not be making any radical changes to the
way Saints play.
"I'll tread very carefully, with very small steps," he said. "We don't need to change course, but there might be a few minor adjustments."
Anderson will take charge for the first time for Friday night's demanding game against the Super League leaders, Leeds, and says he is impatient to get started.
"I've apologised to the coaching staff, but my blood's pumping and I'm going to jump straight in," he said.
The St Helens chairman, Eamonn McManus, said that he was completely confident that the club has made the right appointment.
"He's not just the right coach, he's the right person."
Anderson, aged 38, first emerged as an assistant coach at Parramatta, alongside his rival coach on Friday night, Tony Smith.
He achieved quick success at the New Zealand Warriors, leading them to a Grand Final and coaching the New Zealand Kiwis test side until giving up the job to come to St Helens.
"It's a huge decision to come halfway across the world, but the prospect of coming to a magnificent rugby league club like St Helens was far too hard to pass up," he said.
"I didn't need to ask anyone over here about St Helens. I'd seen a fair amount of them over the years, because I'm a rugby league lover."
Anderson will be without Great Britain fullback Paul Wellens for the Leeds match, due to a knee injury.
- INDEPENDENT
