Chris Anderson (rugby league)

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Chris Anderson is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He has played for and coached the Australian national team and is a member of the Halifax RLFC Hall of Fame.

[edit] Playing career

Anderson (born 2 May 1953) was a winger who was recruited by Peter Moore from Forbes, New South Wales. He played 232 first grade games for the Canterbury Bulldogs between 1971-84 and was also a member of the Widnes Challenge Cup winning side in 1974-75.

Anderson represented Australia in 8 Tests, the 1975 World Cup and two Kangaroos Tours in 1978 and 1982. He also represented New South Wales and became the first ever player to score a hat-trick of tries in a State of Origin match.

Anderson was also captain-coach of Halifax RLFC between 1985-88 where he enjoyed great success, including the 1986-87 Challenge Cup victory against St Helens.

[edit] Coaching career

Chris Anderson is one of the few people to play and coach competition winning sides in both Australia and England. He is also one of the few people to coach two different clubs to NRL/NSWRL Premiership success.

Anderson returned to Australia after playing/coaching in the British 1987-88 season and was appointed coach of the Canterbury Bulldogs Under 21's team for the 1989 season. He was quickly appointed first grade coach for 1990 and enjoyed eight fruitful seasons at Canterbury, including the 1995 Premiership triumph over the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.

The formation of the Melbourne Storm saw Anderson become their first coach and he guided the team to Premiership success in 1999 when they defeated the St George Illawarra Dragons.

Anderson was appointed coach of the Australian Rugby League Test Team in 1999 and enjoyed five successful seasons before his tenure came to a halt after the successful 2003 whitewash of Great Britain.

On the 2001 Kangaroo Tour when coaching Australia, Anderson, was taken to a Wigan hospital after complaining of chest pains during the first half of the deciding third test match against Great Britain at the JJB Stadium. He had suffered a non-fatal heart attack and thankfully made a full recovery.

Anderson was also coach of the Cronulla Sharks for two controversial seasons in 2002 and 2003 getting them one game short of the Grand Final in 2002. Anderson was sacked in dramatic circumstances over disagreements with the club's management on the future direction of the team, largely centred around his decision to replace the existing halfback, Preston Campbell with new signing Brett Kimmorley in the starting side. He also continually picked his son, Jared, at the expense of Matt King, who ended up moving to the Melbourne Storm where his career blossomed.

In July 2004 Anderson was appointed coach of the Newport Gwent Dragons - a Welsh Rugby Union team. Despite finishing fourth in the Celtic League that season, his one year contract was not renewed. Anderson was overlooked for the signing of Canberra Rugby League football club and many have linked it with his choosing to coach a Rugby Union side.

Anderson had accept a 2 year contract with the Sydney Roosters as their first grade coach for the 2007-08 NRL seasons. However late in the season after just five wins from sixteen matches, including a horrific 56-0 loss to Manly Sea Eagles, Anderson stepped down from the job. Former Roosters 5/8 Brad Fittler was his replacement.

[edit] External links

• Player Details at stateoforigin.com.au
• 2001 Ashes profile