Vinnie Anderson

Vinnie Anderson

Personal information
Full name	Vincent Manase Mohenoa Anderson
Born	2 February 1979 (1979-02-02) Auckland, New Zealand
Height	186 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	89 kg (14 st 0 lb)
Playing information
Position	Centre, Five-eighth, Loose forward
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2002–2004	NZ Warriors	55	13	0	0	52
2005–2006	St Helens	42	16	0	0	88
2007–2010	Warrington Wolves	88	31	0	0	124
2011–	Salford City Reds	19	6	0	0	24
	Total	204	66	0	0	288
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2003–2006	New Zealand	6	5	0	0	20

Vinnie Anderson (born 14 February 1979 in Auckland, New Zealand) 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 is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Early years

Anderson played for the East Coast Bays Barracudas and the Mount Albert Lions in the Auckland Rugby League before being signed by the New Zealand Warriors.

New Zealand Warriors

Anderson debuted for 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.

St Helens

Anderson signed St. Helens in 2005 after the Rugby Football League 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.

Anderson playing for Warrington

Warrington Wolves

Vinnie joined the Warrington Wolves in 2007. He will be joined at the Wolves in the 2008 season, by brother Louis Anderson, 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.

Possible Rugby Union Switch

Anderson grew up playing rugby union 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.

Salford City Reds

Anderson joined the Salford City Reds in 2011.

External links

• Warrington Wolves profile
• Saints Heritage Society profile
• Rugby League Project stats
• NRL profile