Rugby league: Confirmation that Anderson to continue with Kiwis

1.00pm

NZPA - Daniel Anderson will continue as the Kiwis rugby league coach, even though he has abandoned the struggling New Zealand Warriors.

Anderson plans to remain in New Zealand until at least the end of the year and coach the Kiwis in the Tri-Nations series, which would rule out an immediate move to replace sacked coach Paul Langmack at South Sydney.

Anderson met Warriors owner Eric Watson and the National Rugby League club's chief executive officer, Mick Watson, yesterday, when it was "mutually agreed" that he resign.

"My decision after consulting with them was that someone else should basically try and get the Warriors together and turned around and going in a forward direction in the future," Anderson said.

Mick Watson said letting Anderson go was "one of the hardest decisions of my life."

"We started here together and we were business partners in this club, so it was a mighty big decision to part," Mick Watson said.

"At the end of the day it was a business decision, it was Daniel's decision."

Eric Watson said the club needed to deliver the goods and didn't.

"This is a business, it's a serious business and we have to deliver for the club's sake, the fans' sake and for all those involved with the club."

Warriors assistant coach Tony Kemp, a former Kiwis international, has taken over as head coach for the rest of the 2004 season.

Kemp said he had no idea what was going on regarding Anderson's future until yesterday.

New Zealand Rugby League executive chairman Selwyn Pearson said Anderson's job with the Kiwis was secure.

"This obviously depends on Daniel's next move but, as far as I'm concerned, the past three years have shown his qualities as a coach are unquestionable," he said.

Anderson, 37, made it clear he wanted another coaching job but would remain in Auckland for now.

The rumour mill has linked him to the Rabbitohs and Parramatta, whose coach, Brian Smith, has also been under pressure.

Anderson, the 2002 Dally M Coach of the Year and former Eels assistant coach, would not speculate on where he may end up.

"It's not something that's been in the planning," he said.

"I haven't spoken to anyone on anything else."

A move to Australia could jeopardise Anderson's position as Test coach, given that a condition of the job when he took over was that he live in New Zealand.

"Obviously we would have to reconsider our position (if Anderson left New Zealand)," Pearson said.

"But in my mind, we would let his contract run out and, depending on results, could appoint him again. Who knows."

- NZPA