The One New Zealand Warriors have rallied around former head coach Daniel Anderson in his recovery from a catastrophic spine injury.
Anderson, who guided the NRL side from 2001 to 2004, was bodysurfing at Soldiers Beach in New South Wales while on vacation with his family in December last year when he went into cardiac arrest after being dumped on his head by a wave.
The 56-year-old was dragged out of the water semi-conscious by two off-duty paramedics who happened to be nearby.
The NRL has today launched the Daniel Anderson Support Fund and announced round 25 will be the ‘Daniel Anderson Round’, with a number of initiatives and public fundraising drives scheduled across that week to support the Anderson family.
One New Zealand Warriors CEO Cameron George is part of a working group, along with several figures from both the Sydney Roosters and Parramatta, who are in talks around how best to action those.
The One New Zealand Warriors have changed their annual Old Boys’ Day to fall on their 25th-round clash against Manly at Go Media Stadium Mt Smart.
Match: Warriors v Sea Eagles
Round 25 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Sea Eagles
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-KlokstadFullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Reuben Garrick
-
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-ZelezniakWinger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
-
Centre for Warriors is number 3 Rocco BerryCentre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tolutau Koula
-
Centre for Warriors is number 4 Adam PompeyCentre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Morgan Harper
-
Winger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo MontoyaWinger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega
-
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Luke MetcalfFive-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 14 Jake Arthur
-
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun JohnsonHalfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans
Forwards
-
Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-BlakeProp for Sea Eagles is number 8 Toafofoa Sipley
-
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde EganHooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan Croker
-
Prop for Warriors is number 10 Bunty AfoaProp for Sea Eagles is number 10 Sean Keppie
-
2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jackson Ford2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
-
2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Marata Niukore2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Kelma Tuilagi
-
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Tohu HarrisLock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic
Interchange
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Dylan WalkerInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 6 Joshua Schuster
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Bayley SironenInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Dean Matterson
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Josh CurranInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Aaron Woods
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 21 Freddy LussickInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Ethan Bullemor
Reserves
-
Replacement for Warriors is number 20 Taine TuaupikiReplacement for Sea Eagles is number 18 Gordon Chan Kum Tong
Match Officials
- Referee: Todd Smith
- Touch Judge: Darian Furner
- Touch Judge: Kasey Badger
- Senior Review Official: Gerard Sutton
Last updated:
Many of the past players expected to be in attendance were coached by Anderson.
“Daniel is a huge part of this club’s history, and the Anderson family a big part of the success of the organisation today,” said George.
“Round 25 will be our big New Zealand fundraiser and further details around those initiatives and how the public can get around it will be confirmed soon.
“We will certainly be playing our part as a club to contribute in supporting Daniel and his family at this time.”
Somewhat unbelievably, Anderson is still working for the Sydney Roosters as head of recruitment, putting in about 10 hours a week from his rehab centre.
An online fundraiser has been set up, where the public can donate to aid in his recovery.
Link here: https://danielandersonfund.com.au/
- Watch ‘Face To Face’ on Sky Sport 4 at 9.30 tonight when Fox League’s Yvonne Sampson talks to Daniel Anderson.
