General League now a religion for committed Anderson

[PB_old]

Acquired from:Stuff


League now a religion for committed Anderson
27 January 2006

SYDNEY: Devout Mormon Fraser Anderson has a new mission in life - to emerge from a logjam of promising New Zealand rugby league rookies to secure a wing berth at the Brisbane Broncos.

Although incumbent Australian representative Brent Tate seems to have locked down one flank, the other wing at the Broncos is up for grabs as pre-National Rugby League (NRL) training steps up a gear.

Anderson, 21, appears to have the pedigree and pace for an early crack at the position.

Fresh from completing a two-year mission in the Philippines, the sibling of Kiwis internationals Vinnie and Louis is quickly making up for lost time by scorching down the training track.

Despite tipping the scales at 103kg, Anderson clocked a blistering 4.92 seconds over 40m recently, with the club's previous record holder Leon Bott a shade slower in 4.94sec.

Pre-season trials loom as a more significant test and Anderson is keen to show he has the skills to match his raw pace despite being out of the game for two years.

"I've been going hard out at training. It's great Wayne Bennett has given me the opportunity to come over and try out," Anderson, a former New Zealand under-23 basketball representative, told The Courier Mail newspaper in Brisbane.

A former New Zealand Warriors development player, Anderson has some way to go before he follows in his brothers' footsteps as a first-grade regular.

He is up against fellow New Zealanders Tame Tupou and Greg Eastwood never mind the incumbent Bott, who played 24 games in his debut season while still at school last year, and a host of locals.

Tupou played four games last year and Eastwood one in the Broncos' top side.

Bott, Scott Minto, Steve Michaels and Australian schoolboys fullback Darius Boyd are also in the frame.

 

[PB_old]

Fraser Anderson

And on the same theme from the Broncos website

Wing battle 'Royal'
by Wayne Heming
Thursday January 26, 2006
Source: AAP

A BATTLE royal looms at the Ergon Energy Broncos for the two wing spots in 2006, and coach Wayne Bennett could not be happier.

Australian incumbent winger Brent Tate appears a logical first choice should Bennett - as expected - opt for Shaun Berrigan and Justin Hodges as his initial centre pairing.

But the queue chasing the other wing spot is one of the biggest since the club kicked off back in 1988.

The Broncos have a proud tradition of producing great wingers, ever since a raw Michael Hancock hit the field in the club's first game against Manly at Lang Park 18 years ago.

In the intervening period, the Broncos have rarely failed to provide wingers for Queensland and Australian sides, with the likes of Hancock, Willie Carne, Wendell Sailor and Lote Tuqiri permanent rep wingers during their tenure at the top.

In 2006 the Broncos have 12 players in their 'outside backs' training group, and all but Justin Hodges can expect to be considered for a berth on the flank.

The club has unearthed a new speedster with New Zealander Fraser Anderson officially stealing Leon Bott's title of fastest Bronco over 40 metres in pre-season training.

Anderson, 21, who has a superb rugby league pedigree as the younger brother of Kiwi internationals Vinnie and Louis, clocked a blistering 4.92 seconds over 40 metres, with Bott stopping the clock at 4.94 seconds.

Bott, who created history last year by playing 24 games while still attending high school, has shed 4kgs in the off-season and is determined to reclaim his title when the club stages another series of speed tests at UQ tomorrow (Friday).

While Anderson's natural speed will help his claims, the fact that he hasn't played rugby league for two years because of his desire to work as a missionary in the Philippines, means he is giving his rivals a head start.

Scott Minto, provided he has shaken off the injuries that have plagued him in recent seasons, is well in the hunt again because of his bulk and height.

And Steve Michaels, a youngster who made three NRL appearances in his first year out of school in 2005 and was a 'quiet tip' to play in the finals series, looms as a real wing prospect according to insiders who believe he has some exciting skills.

Michaels scored a sensational try against the Warriors in Auckland last year and already has a lot of admirers.

Another looking to make an impression on coach Bennett include last year's Australian schoolboys fullback Darius Boyd, an 18 year-old from Gold Coast who played Queensland Cup with the Burleigh Bears last year.

More at home at fullback than on the wing, Boyd is an athlete first and foremost and is a certain candidate.

One of the real bolters for a wing spot is rookie Denan Kemp, who until his final year of high school was hooked on soccer.

He only played rugby league by accident after his Gold Coast school team was short of players and he was told he could get a week off school work if he played in a rep carnival.

He did, and was spotted at the carnival by a Broncos scout. After staring in the Colts last season Kemp went on to become something of a tryscoring whiz for the Toowoomba Clydesdales.

Kiwi monster Tame Tupou played four NRL games last year after his two the previous season and if his suspect handling has improved, he is another very viable option for Bennett, along with prolific Queensland Cup pointscorer Nick Parfitt, who seems more at home at fullback.

Even 18 year-old Greg Eastwood, a 102kg utility, is capable of adapting to playing on the wing.

A punishing defender, Eastwood has already been likened to a young Brett Plowman who can bulldoze his way to the try line.

Eastwood made just the one NRL appearance last season and starred for both the Junior Kiwis and New Zealand A, being named man-of-the-match in the Junior Kiwis impressive third Test win over the Australian Schoolboys.

 

[2big2strong_old]

alls i can say is i'll believe the hype when i see the action, so many players these days get tipped as the next best thing, i think people forget that Fraser has only played 5 games in three years, but in saying all that, i hope the hype is true and he joins the ever growing talent in the kiwi's!

 

[warriors4life_old]

hope he rips up against every team except the warriors and then we can add him to the talented kiwi backline