Chris Anderson (rugby)

Chris Anderson

Personal information
Full name	Christopher Anderson
Born	(1952-05-02)2 May 1952
Playing information
Position	Wing
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1971–84 Canterbury-Bankstown 230 94 0 0 303 1974–75 Widnes 19 18 0 0 54 1984–87 Halifax 92 22 0 0 88 Total 341 134 0 0 445 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1975–82 Australia 12 1 0 0 3 1980–83 New South Wales 4 3 0 0 12
Coaching information
Rugby league
Club Years Team Gms W D L W% 1984–88 Halifax 1990–97 Canterbury Bulldogs 181 110 4 67 61 1998–01 Melbourne Storm 89 53 2 34 60 2002–03 Cronulla Sharks 51 24 0 27 47 2007 Sydney Roosters 16 5 0 11 31 Total 337 192 6 139 57 Representative Years Team Gms W D L W% 1999–03 Australia 25 22 0 3 88
Rugby union
Club Years Team Gms W D L W% 2004–05 Newport Gwent Dragons 20 11 0 9 55
Source:

Christopher Anderson(born 2 May 1952) is an Australian former professionalrugby leaguefootballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s, andcoachedin the 1990s and 2000s. AnAustralian KangaroosandNew South Wales Bluesrepresentative winger, he featured inCanterbury-Bankstown's third grand final win and captainedHalifaxto both League and Cup success.

As a coach, Anderson took Australia to victory in the2000 World Cupvictory and coached both Canterbury-Bankstown andMelbourne Stormto premiership wins. He is also a member of the Halifax Hall of Fame.His nickname was "Opes".

Playing career

Anderson was awingwho was recruited byPeter MoorefromForbes, New South Wales,where he attendedRed Bend Catholic College.As a flankman for the Canterbury side, Anderson gave the club a vital tryscoring power which had been quite absent from Belmore throughout the 1950s and 1960s.In 1974,when Canterbury-Bankstown reached the Grand Final, Anderson brokeMorrie Murphy's 1947 record of sixteen tries for the club.

He also played in England for Widnes. Anderson played left wing inWidnes' 2–3 defeat byBradford Northernin the1974–75 Player's No.6 TrophyFinal during the1974–75 seasonatWilderspool Stadium,Warringtonon Saturday 25 January 1975. Also during the1974–75 Northern Rugby Football League seasonhe was flown to England to play on the wing forWidnesin their 14–7 victory overWarringtonin the1975 Challenge CupFinal atWembley Stadium,Londonon Saturday 10 May 1975.

Anderson surpassedEddie Burns' club record for Canterbury-Bankstown of 65 tries in 1978.

Anderson representedAustraliain eight tests, including the1975 World Cupand twoKangaroo Toursin1978and 1982. He also representedNew South Walesin the experimental1980 State of Origin game.In the third Origin encounter of 1983 (his last representative match), Anderson became the first ever player to score a hat-trick of tries in aState of Originmatch, although the Blues lost 22–43. That season Anderson scored nineteen tries for the Bulldogs, a club record untilNigel Vaganascored twenty-threein 2002.

After struggling with a broken arm during 1984, and being dropped to reserve grade for the latter part of the NSWRL season, Anderson becamecaptain-coachofHalifaxbetween late 1984 and May 1988 where he enjoyed great success, including winning theChampionshipduring the1985–86 season,and playedstand-offin the 19-18 victory overSt. Helensin the1987 Challenge CupFinal during the1986–87 seasonatWembley Stadium,Londonon Saturday 2 May 1987. He played stand-off in almost all his games forHalifax.

Coaching career

Anderson is one of the few people to play and coach competition winning sides in bothAustraliaandEngland.He is also one of the few people to coach two different clubs toNRL/NSWRLPremiership success. Anderson returned to Australia after playing/coaching in the British 1987–88 season and was appointed coach of theCanterbury-Bankstown BulldogsUnder 21s team for the 1989 season.

Anderson was quickly appointed as Canterbury's first grade coach for1990and enjoyed eight fruitful seasons at Canterbury, including the1995Premiership triumph over theManly-Warringah Sea Eagles.

The formation of theMelbourne Stormsaw Anderson become their inaugural coach. His son,Ben,played 17 games for Melbourne. Anderson was appointed coach of theAustralian national teamin March 1999, replacingWayne Bennett.Then he guided the Storm to Premiership success when they defeated theSt. George Illawarra Dragonsin the1999 NRL Grand Final.Anderson was coach of theAustralian teamto compete in the end of season1999 Rugby League Tri-Nationstournament. In the final againstNew Zealandthe Kangaroos won 22–20.

After seven rounds (and only two wins) of the2001 NRL seasonAnderson quit asMelbourne Stormcoach.On the2001 Kangaroo Tour,when coachingAustralia,Anderson, was taken to aWiganhospital after complaining of chest pains during the first half of the deciding third test match againstGreat Britainat theJJB Stadium.He had suffered a non-fatalmyocardial infarctionbut made a full recovery.

Anderson was appointed coach of theCronulla-Sutherland Sharksfor two seasons in2002and2003,getting them one game short of the Grand Final in 2002. Anderson was sacked in dramatic circumstances over disagreements with the club's management on the future direction of the team, largely centred on his decision to replace the existinghalfback,Preston Campbellwith new signingBrett Kimmorleyin the starting side.He also continually picked his son,Jarrad,at the expense ofMatt King,who ended up moving to theMelbourne Stormwhere his career blossomed.At the end of the2003 NRL season,he went on the2003 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France,coaching Australia to victory overGreat Britainin what would be the last time the two nations contested anAshes series.After five successful seasons Anderson's tenure as coach of Australia came to a halt following the successful 2003 whitewash ofGreat Britain.

In July 2004, Anderson was appointed coach of theNewport Gwent Dragons– a Welshrugby unionteam for a 2 year deal despite having never previously coached a rugby union team.Despite finishing fourth in theCeltic Leaguethat season, his one-year contract was not renewed.

Anderson accepted a two-year contract with theSydney Roostersas their first grade coach for the 2007 and 2008 NRL seasons. However, Anderson stepped down from the job late into the 2007 season, after eleven losses from sixteen matches – including a horrific 56-0 loss toManly-Warringah Sea Eagles.He was replaced by former Sydney Roostersfive-eighthBrad Fittler.

Anderson currently coaches the Mullumbimby Giants 1st Grade side on the NSW Far North Coast in theNRRRL (Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League)competition.

Recognition

Anderson is a Halifax Hall of Fame Inducteeand was awarded theAustralian Sports Medalon 24 October 2000 for his contribution to Australian rugby league.

External links

• Player Details at stateoforigin.com.au
• Bulldogs profile