League: Anderson signs for St Helens

Daniel Anderson

Kiwis coach Daniel Anderson has signed to take up the reins of coach at St Helens almost a year since he parted company with the Warriors.

The New Zealand Rugby League has released him from the rest of his contract through to the end of the Tri-Nations in early December and will set up a selection committee headed by deputy chairman Sel Bennett to settle on a replacement.

There was no payout or buy-out by Saints, who sacked another Aussie, Ian Millward, for repeatedly swearing at club and game officials 12 rounds into the 28-round season.

The club board dismissed an appeal by Millward mid-week and have agreed terms with Anderson through to the end of 2007.

The deal was done overnight and was to be announced by Saints chairman Eamon McManus.

The next assignment for the Kiwis is against Australia, probably in Brisbane, in the 2005 Tri-Nations opener. Venues are yet to be settled, but the host nation will do due diligence and then recommend a stadium. The 40,000-plus attendance at Suncorp Stadium for the Anzac game has swayed the Australians away from a trial in Melbourne.

The next test for the new coach is in Auckland, probably at Ericsson rather than Albany, the Kiwis' last on the Warriors' home ground in 1999.

NZRL chairman Selwyn Pearson praised Anderson for his work in setting up pathways for players, coaches and team management from under-16 level up. Anderson's two assistants, James Leuluai and Brian McClennan, were both worthy candidates to take over, Pearson said, declining to state a preference until the selection panel had done its work.

Though he gave a good indication of his feelings. "There is a strong message [to those in the NZRL programme] that there is an escalator that you're on. If the journey didn't continue, then blokes would start to ask, 'Why am I doing all this?'

"Having said that, there are always special cases; as an example, Daniel Anderson. He didn't come through our pathway but he was lecturing those who were."

Anderson had put in place "all the dots to take us through to the World Cup in 2008", Pearson said. "All we have to do is join them up. We are thrilled to bits with his contribution to New Zealand league."

Anderson may take an advisory role with the Kiwis when they get to England for the two games against Great Britain, and the final if they make it. That would be up to the new coach, Pearson said.

Anderson confirmed he would take an interest if asked. The 38-year-old said he and his family had enjoyed his time here and his heart would be with the Kiwis after coaching them since 2003.

He finishes with one win and a draw from six games against the benchmark, Australia; two losses to Great Britain from two games; one win from one game over France.

It's a Kiwis-Kangaroos record comparable with that of Frank Endacott, whose teams beat Australia three times from 10 contests from 1997 to 2000; Gary Freeman was none-from-two in 2000-01.

Graham Lowe secured three wins from five games (1981-83) and won six-from-six over Great Britain during a golden period when the Kiwis had world-beaters including Mark Graham and Leuluai, the Tamati brothers, Howie and Kevin, the Sorenson brothers, Dane and Kurt, Dean Bell, Clayton Friend, Hugh McGahan and Fred Ah Kuoi.

The new Kiwis coach may enjoy a similar honeymoon if young stars such as Sonny Bill Williams, Roy Asotasi, Bronson Harrison and Benji Marshall reach potential as more New Zealand-linked players than ever feature the NRL and Super League.

St Helens are in second place on the Super League table with 20 points, four behind Leeds. Anderson said they wanted him at Knowlsey Rd as soon as possible; only the processing of his immigration documents would delay that.

Anderson did not expect to be in England in time to prepare Saints for their game on Saturday, so there will be no confrontation between ex-Warriors and Kiwis coaches. Saints play Endacott's Widnes Vikings, who are on six points, one above Leigh at the relegation end of the table.

He was happy with the length of the deal with Saints but accepted coaches lived a precarious existence. Millward had been at Knowlsey Rd six years, winning two Challenge Cups and two Super League titles.