Vinnie Anderson
Encyclopedia
Vinnie Anderson is a professional rugby league
footballer for the Salford City Reds
of Europe's Super League
competition. A New Zealand international representative loose-forward or stand-off, he previously played for St. Helens, the Warrington Wolves
and NRL side, the New Zealand Warriors
. He is the elder brother of Louis
and Fraser Anderson
.
and the Mount Albert Lions in the Auckland Rugby League
before being signed by the New Zealand Warriors
.
in Round 17 of the 2002 National Rugby League, playing against the Cronulla Sharks
at Toyota Park on 7 July 2002. That year the Warriors went on to the 2002 NRL Grand Final
, which they lost 30-8 to the Sydney City Roosters.
In 2003 he played Centre as the New Zealand Warriors fell one victory short of a consecutive Grand Final appearance.
At the end of 2003 Anderson made his International debut for the New Zealand Kiwis in the 100th match between the New Zealand and the Australian team
. Playing at Centre, Anderson scored two tries as the Kiwis won 30-16.
Anderson also played Stand-Off for the 2004 New Zealand Tri-Nations side. The campaign was unsuccessful although he did manage to score tries in all but one of the 4 test matches against Australia and Great Britain. The tour also saw the start of brother Louis Anderson's Test career.
Before departing at the start of the 2005 NRL season for the European Super League, Anderson had carved a reputation for tough tackling and good ball skills.
refused to register him as a London Broncos player because of the London sides financial problems at the time.
Anderson fit well into the St Helens flamboyant style of rugby league and formed a deadly right-hand side combination with Jamie Lyon and Darren Albert.
In his 2 years at St. Helens they finished as League Leaders in 2005 and then won both the Challenge Cup and Super League in 2006.
, who has joined the club from New Zealand Warriors
.
He has been named in the Tonga training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
.
Anderson played Stand-Off for Warrington
in the 2009 Challenge Cup
Final, scoring a try in the process of defeating Huddersfield Giants 25-16. He also played in the 2010 Challenge Cup Final victory over the Leeds Rhinos
.
Anderson was again named in the Tonga training squad for 2010.
in New Zealand and it was rumored that both French and Japanese rugby union clubs have been interested in luring the Kiwi international to play. One of Anderson's brothers, Fraser Anderson
, currently plays professional rugby union in Japan for the Kobelco Steelers.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer for the Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...
of Europe's Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
competition. A New Zealand international representative loose-forward or stand-off, he previously played for St. Helens, the Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
and NRL side, the New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
. He is the elder brother of Louis
Louis Anderson
Louis Anderson is a professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for Warrington Wolves of Super League. A New Zealand international representative forward, he previously played for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League competition...
and Fraser Anderson
Fraser Anderson
Fraser Anderson is a New Zealand professional rugby union and former professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers. He is of Tongan descent.-Early years:...
.
Early years
Anderson played for the East Coast Bays BarracudasEast Coast Bays Barracudas
The East Coast Bays Barracudas is an rugby league club based in Browns Bay, New Zealand. They currently compete in the Fox Memorial, the premier division in Auckland Rugby League.-Notable players:...
and the Mount Albert Lions in the Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
before being signed by the New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
.
New Zealand Warriors
Anderson debuted for the New Zealand WarriorsNew Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
in Round 17 of the 2002 National Rugby League, playing against the Cronulla Sharks
Cronulla Sharks
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales...
at Toyota Park on 7 July 2002. That year the Warriors went on to the 2002 NRL Grand Final
2002 NRL Grand Final
The 2002 NRL season's Grand Final took place on Sunday, 6 October 2002, at Telstra Stadium. 80,130 people saw the Sydney Roosters beat the New Zealand Warriors 30-8. The Clive Churchill Medalist was Craig Fitzgibbon of the Sydney Roosters.- The teams :...
, which they lost 30-8 to the Sydney City Roosters.
In 2003 he played Centre as the New Zealand Warriors fell one victory short of a consecutive Grand Final appearance.
At the end of 2003 Anderson made his International debut for the New Zealand Kiwis in the 100th match between the New Zealand and the Australian team
Australian national rugby league team
The Australian national rugby league team have represented Australia in senior men's rugby league football competition since the establishment of the game in Australia in 1908. Administered by the Australian Rugby League, the Kangaroos' are ranked number one in the RLIF World Rankings...
. Playing at Centre, Anderson scored two tries as the Kiwis won 30-16.
Anderson also played Stand-Off for the 2004 New Zealand Tri-Nations side. The campaign was unsuccessful although he did manage to score tries in all but one of the 4 test matches against Australia and Great Britain. The tour also saw the start of brother Louis Anderson's Test career.
Before departing at the start of the 2005 NRL season for the European Super League, Anderson had carved a reputation for tough tackling and good ball skills.
St Helens
Anderson signed St. Helens in 2005 after the Rugby Football LeagueRugby Football League
The Rugby Football League is the governing body for professional rugby league football in England. Based at Red Hall in Leeds, it administers the England national rugby league team, the Challenge Cup, Super League and the Rugby League Championships...
refused to register him as a London Broncos player because of the London sides financial problems at the time.
Anderson fit well into the St Helens flamboyant style of rugby league and formed a deadly right-hand side combination with Jamie Lyon and Darren Albert.
In his 2 years at St. Helens they finished as League Leaders in 2005 and then won both the Challenge Cup and Super League in 2006.
Warrington Wolves
Vinnie joined the Warrington Wolves in 2007. He will be joined at the Wolves in the 2008 season, by brother Louis AndersonLouis Anderson
Louis Anderson is a professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for Warrington Wolves of Super League. A New Zealand international representative forward, he previously played for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League competition...
, who has joined the club from New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
.
He has been named in the Tonga training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
.
Anderson played Stand-Off for Warrington
Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
in the 2009 Challenge Cup
2009 Challenge Cup
The 2009 Carnegie Challenge Cup began in January 2009. The Challenge Cup is the most prestigious knock-out competition in European rugby league. Teams from England, Scotland, Wales, France and Russia are included in the tournament....
Final, scoring a try in the process of defeating Huddersfield Giants 25-16. He also played in the 2010 Challenge Cup Final victory over the Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
.
Anderson was again named in the Tonga training squad for 2010.
Possible Rugby Union Switch
Anderson grew up playing rugby unionRugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
in New Zealand and it was rumored that both French and Japanese rugby union clubs have been interested in luring the Kiwi international to play. One of Anderson's brothers, Fraser Anderson
Fraser Anderson
Fraser Anderson is a New Zealand professional rugby union and former professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers. He is of Tongan descent.-Early years:...
, currently plays professional rugby union in Japan for the Kobelco Steelers.