The former St Helens coach Daniel Anderson has been sacked by Parramatta after two years in charge of the Eels.
Parramatta issued a statement confirming the news today amid reports they are to begin negotiations to appoint the New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney, an assistant with Melbourne Storm, as Anderson’s replacement.
The Parramatta chairman, Roy Spagnolo, said in a statement: “This is one of those very tough decisions but we feel it is the right one, considering the best interests of the club’s long-term development.”
Anderson, a former New Zealand coach, guided St Helens to their last Super League title, in 2006, and a hat-trick of Challenge Cup final victories in his three and a half years at Knowsley Road.
He was Super League coach of the year in 2006 and 2007.
Here in the UK, the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, had promised us a government of stability and competence – not forgetting professionalism, integrity and accountability – after the rollercoaster ride of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. Remember Liz? These days she seems like a long forgotten comedy act. Instead, Sunak took us even further through the looking-glass into the Conservative psychodrama.
Elsewhere, the picture has been no better. In the US, Donald Trump is now many people’s favourite to become president again. In Ukraine, the war has dragged on with no end in sight. The danger of the rest of the world getting battle fatigue and losing interest all too apparent. Then there is the war in the Middle East and not forgetting the climate crisis …
But a new year brings new hope. There are elections in many countries, including the UK and the US. We have to believe in change. That something better is possible. The Guardian will continue to cover events from all over the world and our reporting now feels especially important. But running a news gathering organisation doesn’t come cheap.
So this year, I am asking you – if you can afford it – to give money. Well, not to me personally – though you can if you like – but to the Guardian.
With your help, we can make our journalism free to everyone. You won’t ever find any of our news reports or comment pieces tucked away behind a paywall. We couldn’t do this without you. Unlike our politicians, when we say we are in this together we mean it.
Happy new year!
