Rugby league: Warriors confirm Anderson has quit

12.00pm

The Warriors have said under fire coach Daniel Anderson has quit.

Club owner Eric Watson said Anderson had resigned and not been sacked.

He said the players were surprised but would continue their work trying to turn round a disastrous season for the Warriors.

Watson held a meeting with the players today at which he is understood to have told them performances must improve.

Assistant coach Tony Kemp is taking over the team.

Anderson approached the club to discuss his future, Watson said.

He told TVNZ: "Daniel came to us a couple of weeks ago and started talking about what-ifs going forward.

"And when a business gets into the situation of not delivering ... change has to happen."

Last night the website www.rugbyleague.co.nz reported that Anderson had accepted a settlement from the Warriors.

It quoted Australian reports that he was likely to join the NRL's bottom-placed club, South Sydney, which sacked coach Paul Langmack on Tuesday. But club chairman Nicholas Pappas denied the rumour, saying Anderson was welcome to apply.

Anderson's departure follows a terrible season for the Warriors, who reached the NRL grand final in 2002 and the preliminary final last year.

But this year they have won only three games and are second to bottom of the NRL standings.

As the run of losses continued this season, the club shocked fans by sacking star player Ali Lauititi, who has since signed with English club Leeds.