League: Anderson free to go to England

Daniel Anderson

Kiwis coach Daniel Anderson won't have the New Zealand Rugby League barring his way if English club St Helens seek his services.

Anderson's name has been among those linked with the Super League side after the club sacked another Australian, Ian Millward, for gross misconduct.

Anderson is in the final year of a three-year NZRL contract, which includes building an elite player development programme.

His stint as test coach is due to end with the Tri-Nations tournament in October and November.

NZRL chairman Selwyn Pearson said Anderson had been open about his manager, Jim Banaghan, being in contact with St Helens.

The Merseysiders haven't made an offer to Anderson, who has been out of club coaching since parting company with the New Zealand Warriors a year ago.

But if they did come calling, Pearson said Anderson would be free to accept, because the player development structures he had been working on were largely in place.

"He's done a fantastic job for us," Pearson said. "All the dots are in place. Even if he goes, it will be just a matter of joining them up."

However, Pearson said it was unlikely Anderson would continue as Kiwi coach if he went to St Helens.

"Obviously, it would be almost impossible to do it from over there," he said.

"But having said that, when he first took this job, part of his brief was to make sure there was a replacement ready."

Pearson was confident that Kiwis assistants James Leuluai and Brian McClennan could step up, while there were "two or three others snapping at their heels".

Millward, who has guided St Helens to five major trophies after taking over in early 2000, has said he intends to appeal against his sacking.

His dismissal came after an internal inquiry into a number of allegations, including three instances of foul language.

- NZPA