Rugby League: Successful Warriors coach takes on Kiwis as well

9.30am

The New Zealand Rugby League today appointed Daniel Anderson as coach of the New Zealand Kiwis for the next three years.

NZRL chairman Selwyn Pearson said the appointment of the Warriors National Rugby League coach for the national side had been a tough decision from an outstanding list of candidates.

Anderson was the hot favourite for the job and held off challenges from incumbent Gary Freeman, Graeme Norton, Gerard Stokes, Gary Kemble, Stan Martin and Singapore-based Mark Thompson.

"It was extremely difficult because of the calibre of those who had expressed an interest," Pearson told NZPA.

"It was extremely tough and we agonised long and hard over it."

The former Parammatta assistant coach, Anderson has reformed the New Zealand Warriors from a previously talented but wayward team into NRL title contenders in just two years with the club.

The Warriors were losing finalists in last year's competition.

In choosing Anderson for the Kiwis' role Pearson said much thought had been given to whether the Warriors mentor could do justice to both high profile coaching roles he would carry.

Anderson's first test in charge will be on July 25 against Australia which is a bye weekend for the Warriors and the second test falls after the NRL season has finished.

"He's going to have a network of people around the traps doing a lot of the bits and pieces for him," Pearson said.

"If he didn't have the Warriors it would be even a bigger load in terms of assembly and game plans for 17 new people.

"A lot will depend on the calibre of people he gets around him and they're going to have to share in the load at those two particular times when he's going to be busy (tests)."

Pearson said Anderson would not have "put his hat in the ring," if he thought he could not cope.

"He seems to have a great analytical brain in terms of rugby league and a great rapport with players," he said of Anderson's qualities.

"I think it's a combination of all sorts of things that has put him on the road to an amazing couple of years thus far."

- NZPA