Rugby League: Warriors coach shoo-in for Kiwis

By PETER JESSUP

Daniel Anderson will be the new Kiwis coach, under terms and conditions yet to be settled.

Anderson confirmed yesterday that he had forwarded an "expression of interest", as the New Zealand Rugby League released the names of seven candidates.

The other six won't get a look-in. NZRL chairman Selwyn Pearson was consulting his board overnight to gauge reaction to the applications but he was basically seeking a rubber stamp for Anderson.

It's a no-brainer. How could the board reject the man that turned a basket case into minor premiers in the space of two seasons?

Anderson will doubtless want reassurance that the Kiwis job won't overtake his role at the Warriors, as they seek to back up in the NRL grand final.

That comes down to the help he receives from the club and the NZRL, but basking in each others' glow is an attractive proposition for both. They both need to ensure Anderson isn't buckled by the workload.

He wouldn't talk about the job yesterday, let alone what might come in terms of players or tactics.

He said he had wanted to see specifics in terms of duties.

Was there any condition he would impose that he thought the NZRL might baulk at? "I'm not going to be pedantic about it," he said.

Pressed, Anderson said nobody would go into such a job without regarding it as a challenge and being keen to take that on.

"You have to know how you want to do it. I've spoken to Selwyn [Pearson] about what I see as the best way to do it. Now it's their decision."

Anderson is contracted to the Warriors until the end of the 2005 season. It would make sense for the league to give him the same tenure with the Kiwis and to tie in his Warriors assistant Tony Kemp to ensure a smooth handover next time - no coaches from left-field as Gary Freeman was, and a clear line of succession for Bartercard Cup coaches.

Anderson is 36, married with three children under six. He was a maths teacher who graduated from schools coaching to development officer for Parramatta, winning two lower grade grand finals before being appointed assistant to Brian Smith.

This is his third season at the Warriors, after starting with only six contracted players following the collapse of Tainui management.

The other six applicants are last year's coach Freeman and assistant Gerard Stokes, Gary Kemble, Graeme Norton, Stan Martin and Mark Thompson.

* The Warriors are waiting the outcome of an MRI scan on Lance Hohaia before deciding if a foot injury will rule him out of their season-opener against Newcastle on Sunday. Only Brent Webb, Richard Villasanti and John Carlaw are unavailable through injury.