Sydney Roosters recruitment manager Daniel Anderson is in hospital after suffering a serious injury while body surfing at Soldiers Beach near Norah Head.
The former Parramatta and New Zealand Warriors coach was on holiday with family when he was dumped on his neck by a big wave. The Herald understands the injury caused the 55-year-old to suffer a cardiac arrest.
Former Parramatta coach Daniel Anderson.Credit:Peter Rae
Family members witnessed the incident and rushed to his aid.
Anderson was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital and is now in a stable condition. He is on a ventilator and being kept under supervision.
Anderson has enjoyed a long career in rugby league. The former Parramatta Marist High school student began his coaching career under the tutelage of Brian Smith at the Eels in 1999.
He was handed his first head coaching role by the New Zealand Warriors in 2001, leading the club to its first finals series in the same year.
Anderson then took the Warriors to the club’s first grand final in 2002, but was unable to stop Brad Fittler’s Sydney Roosters, going down 30-8 in the decider.
Anderson enjoyed more success when he linked with St Helens in 2005. He coached the club to three consecutive grand finals, winning one premiership.
He returned to the NRL and the Eels in 2009, joining forces with Jarryd Hayne to lead the Eels on a memorable run to the grand final. Parramatta’s giant-killing run came to a disappointing end at the hands of the Melbourne Storm, who were later stripped of the premiership for systematically rorting the salary cap.
Anderson was handed a job at the Roosters in 2019 and has been instrumental in their junior recruitment.
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