Daniel Anderson (born 3 May 1967) is an Australian rugby league football coach. He is the current head coach of the Parramatta Eels of the National Rugby League. Anderson previously coached in New Zealand and England and is particularly noted for his work with the development of younger players.

[edit] Early Years

Anderson began his coaching career in 1999 at the Parramatta Eels working his way up to Premier League coach before being made assistant coach to Brian Smith in 2000.^[1]

[edit] New Zealand Warriors

In 2001, Anderson was a surprise choice for coach of the New Zealand Warriors. He had amazing success, taking them to their first finals series in 2001 and their first Grand Final in 2002, losing to the Sydney Roosters. The 2002 Dally M Coach of the Year was awarded to Anderson.

Anderson resigned from the Warriors in June, 2004, after a bad start to the season, winning only three out of eleven games.^[2] Anderson retained his position as coach of the New Zealand Kiwis until June, 2005.

[edit] St Helens

He was the coach of St Helens RLFC, succeeding the previous coach Ian Millward, who was sacked by the club in 2005. He left for Australia at the end of the 2008 Super League season.

In August, 2006, St Helens won the Challenge Cup after beating Huddersfield Giants 42–12 at Twickenham in the final. The club then went on to win the 2006 Grand Final.

In December, 2006, Anderson was rewarded for St Helens' dominance throughout the season when he won the BBC Coach of the Year Award. This was the first time a rugby league coach had received the award. He was also named Super League's coach of the year in 2006 and again in 2007.

In February, 2007, Anderson won the World Club Challenge with St Helens, defeating Australian champions, the Brisbane Broncos.

He then went on to coach St Helens to win the 2007 Challenge Cup final by defeating the Catalans Dragons, 30–8, at the new Wembley Stadium.

St Helens made it to the 2007 Grand Final at Old Trafford against the Leeds Rhinos, but they lost 33–6.

In August 2008 Anderson won the Rugby League Challenge Cup with St Helens for a third successive year beating Hull FC 28-16 at Wembley Stadium.

He is the brother-in-law of current Hull KR coach Justin Morgan.

He coached St Helens in their loss to the Leeds Rhinos in the 2008 Super League Grand Final.^[3]

[edit] Parramatta Eels

On the 17th of November 2008 Anderson was announced as the Head Coach of the Parramatta Eels NRL squad for the 2009, 2010 and 2011 seasons.

[edit] Honours

Dally M Coach of the Year 2002

NRL Grand Finalist 2002 , 2009

Challenge Cup Winner 2006 , 2007 , 2008

Super League Grand Final Winner 2006

BBC Coach of the Year 2006

World Club Challenge Winner 2007

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Anderson plans home-coming