League: All eyes on Vinnie

The tug of war over Vinnie Anderson continued yesterday with the London Broncos and his agent insisting that the test centre would join the Broncos despite English super league authorities blocking the move.

The Kiwis and former Warriors centre signed with the Broncos last week only for the Rugby Football League (RFL) to block his registration. The RFL refused to register the 26-year-old considering the Broncos have debts of 3.5m ($9.2m) and are hoping to enter into a creditors' voluntary agreement to reduce those debts.

It's believed the RFL took this stance following the intervention of other super league clubs, led by the Bulls, who questioned how the Broncos could afford a player of Anderson's quality.

A lucrative move to Bradford, where he would receive up to three-times as much as what he was on at the Warriors, appears to still be a possibility.

Anderson is due to arrive in London tomorrow and the Broncos remain confident he will be cleared to play this week. "We have abided by all the rules," Broncos chief executive Nic Cartwright said.

"We have room for him under our salary cap and within our budget and we don't think the league should be able stop us signing certain players. We will be trying to arrange a meeting with the RFL to discuss the matter."

Anderson's agent Jim Banaghan was relaxed about the delay yesterday. "We have been told by the English rugby league not to worry too much about that," he said. "They are going to work it out next week and it will all sort itself out.

"We won't be going to Bradford. We have a deal with London and until they renege on that we have a deal with them."

Anderson left the Warriors in controversial circumstances with debate abounding over whether he left of his own accord or whether he was pushed.

The versatile player had one year left on his contract and it is understood that he wanted an improved deal, something the Warriors baulked at.

Anderson indicated he would leave at the end of the season, at which time the Warriors negotiated a big-money deal for him to move to Bradford to replace the injured Shontayne Hape. Anderson declined, preferring to join up with London instead.

Sources close to the club questioned how much game time Anderson would have received at the Warriors given the competition for places in the centres and second row.

He was also struggling with a groin injury and had been urged by the Warriors not to join the Kiwis for their Tri-Series campaign at the end of the year. He went on tour and his injury has prevented him taking a full part in pre-season training with the Warriors.

The Warriors maintained their silence over the issue yesterday with Watson saying there were confidentiality issues as well as it being a messy situation.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY