KEY POINTS:
Never before have three brothers played for the Kiwis at the same time.
That has become a possibility - albeit still distant - with the rise of the third Anderson in the NRL.
Fraser Anderson, 22, is between Vinnie, 28, and Louis, 21, who have already had tests
together, notably the win over Australia at North Harbour in 2003.
There have been only two sets of three Kiwis brothers, the Brimbles and Ropatis. The eldest of the Brimbles was Eddie, who played one test against the touring Great Britain side in 1932, and his brothers Walter and Wilfred played together against Australia in 1938. Joe Ropati played his last international in 1986, the same year Tea made his debut. Their brother Iva came later.
It's a dream Fraser has but keeps close. He's no big-head and knows he's got to earn it. But the critics in Australia are already noticing the big wing who has lately shifted in to centre.
Anderson is a devout member of the Church of the Latter Day Saints and a quiet family man off the field, his wife Huia having just given birth to their first child, daughter Aiyana.
Both parents surf. They live two minutes' walk from Cronulla beach and he has the stability of a three-year deal at the Sharks.
Louis, on the bench tomorrow night but off-contract at the Warriors after this season, has already indicated he will join older brother Vinnie at Warrington, such is his desire to play with his sibling again.
Fraser would love to as well. "Hopefully at some point in the future we might be three in one team ... the Kiwis, that would be great, I'd love it, that would be awesome but it's a way off if it happens."
Fraser Anderson's league career was put on hold for two years as he completed his Mormon mission in the Philippines. He didn't have to go.
"It was a tough decision but I'm glad I made it. Seeing a Third World country made me grateful for what I have. It makes me work harder so I don't waste it."
Because of the family connection he had a foot in the NRL door and his agents, the Orr brothers, secured a start with the Broncos via their feeder club, the Toowoomba Clydesdales.
His chances in top grade came sparingly last season and it would have been the same this year - used as needed around State of Origin and other rep games while stars such as Justin Hodges and Brent Tate held the top spots.
So he moved on. "I learned a lot at the Broncos but I wanted to further my career so I had to move, really, and Cronulla is great."
He has played strongly and consistently well in an up-and-down team, one given a major roasting by coach Ricky Stuart after the 20-16 loss in Newcastle on Monday night.
"It's good to have that sometimes, sometimes you need it," Anderson says. "It's made us really focused for this weekend."
He's looking forward to returning "home" and playing "the bros".
The Sharks will be fatigued with five of their players having to back up after the City-Country game and others will have to lift, he agrees.
"We have a good team, we have guys who can do it."
Whatever happens, he'll get a call from dad Warwick sometime after the game, as he does after every game.
"He always gives me an honest report."
Maybe it was growing up in a home where Dad was what Fraser describes as "a hard-out league fanatic" that resulted in three boys playing top league.
Warwick, 47, also played at East Coast Bays as a junior before working in Sydney as a builder. On return to New Zealand at age 30 he returned to the Bays and has played at senior level with both Vinnie and Fraser. Louis was so good he skipped the Auckland grade football and went straight to the Warriors.
Warwick rates Fraser as having perhaps the most potential to be a Kiwi.
"He'd have the most talent. He's got a lot to learn but he's very athletic, he's very smart."
All three boys in one team? "That would be very nice to see."
Fraser Anderson
* Born: April 20, 1984 in Auckland
* Junior club: East Coast Bays
* Height: 1.9m
* Weight: 103kg wing/centre
* NRL debut: for Brisbane, June 2006
* Two games for the Broncos
* Seven for the Sharks
