League: Unfinished business motivates Anderson

Despite the chaos and carnage of last season, Louis Anderson had a year he will never forget - and with good reason.

While he felt the hurt and disappointment of a dismal Warriors NRL season when the team lurched to second bottom when many had touted them as title contenders - he may have felt a little removed from this in what was a season of personal triumph for the 19-year-old second rower.

Not only did he make his NRL debut, when he scored within 15 seconds of coming on the field, but he also went on to play 16 games for the Warriors, catching the eyes of the national selectors in the process. He then excelled on his first Kiwis tour, the Tri-Series, when he was often called on to play in the unfamiliar hooker position.

As so often happens in sport though, year two can be that much more difficult. With success comes expectation and pressure.

While Anderson is aware of this, his more immediate concern is winning a regular starting jersey with the Warriors.

Despite being an incumbent international - having started all four games on the tour of the UK - the arrival of New Zealand skipper Ruben Wiki means he'll be in something of a dogfight with the likes of Awen Guttenbeil, Wairangi Koopu, Sione Faumuina, Epalahame Lauaki and Karl Temata, not to mention his brother Vinnie Anderson, to pack down beside Wiki in the second row of the Warriors scrum.

"It's pretty hard coming back off a tour and fighting for a spot, but I guess that's good for the team," Anderson said.

"I just have to prove myself when I'm given a chance and I realise I still have a lot to learn in rugby league."

 

It's easy to forget that he's still a teenager considering what he's already achieved in rugby league.

The fact that he's been given the chance to learn so much has come as a surprise to the Warriors' 2004 Rookie of the Year.

Anderson had initially hoped to get his chance to play in the Warriors first team towards the end of last season and had targeted the end of 2005 to make the Kiwis.

Perhaps one reason for his rapid development, however, has been the guidance and presence of his older brother, and fellow Warrior, Vinnie.

Like having a big brother on your first day at school, Louis was able to adapt to the Warriors environment more quickly and effectively with someone there to show him the ropes.

"Vinnie has played a big part in my development," the former Junior Kiwis captain said.

"He's always been a bit of a motivation for me because I've seen him achieve and I've wanted to go out there and do the same."

Fans will be hoping that motivation is a commodity in abundance at the Warriors this year - considering their often limp displays in the NRL last season - and Anderson is well aware of the need to win back the trust of the supporters and media.

"Last year was like a bad nightmare," he said more quietly.

"We want to leave last year in the past and get on with it. The feeling is completely different to last year; the new players have brought a new feel and leadership to the team and, with the new coaching staff, it feels like a clean slate."

For this reason, Anderson thinks the Warriors can make the grand final this year.

Some might put this down to youthful exurberance but, as Anderson himself puts it, you have to aim high. After all, he's done that as a player throughout his short career and achieved.

Warriors fans will just be hoping that optimism and success can rub off on his team-mates.

A peek at Louis

* Louis Anderson

* Position: Second row/loose forward/hooker.

* Age: 19

* Height: 185cm

* Weight: 100kg

* Club appearances: 16

* Club debut: Warriors v Panthers, Ericsson Stadium, March 28, 2004 (Rd 3)

* Test appearances: 5

* Louis and his brother Vinnie still live at home with their parents. When the pair played together in the opening test of the Tri-Series against Australia in October, they became the 33rd set of brothers to appear for the Kiwis.

* Louis has the distinction of scoring a try on debut for both the Warriors and the Kiwis.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY