Arvo Wrap

Parramatta has announced Daniel Anderson as their new coach for three years, replacing Michael Hagan who quit last month.

The former St Helens and New Zealand Warriors coach will lead the Eels until 2011 with the responsibility of managing their recovery from a disappointing 2008 season.

Anderson, who's 41, is a three-time Challenge Cup and Super League premiership winner in England.

He was born and raised at Parramatta.

Hagan resigned suddenly last month due to health and family reasons after a tumultuous season when the off-field behaviour of his players was as much of a concern as their inconsistent football.

Meanwhile, Craig Bellamy is to return for another crack reclaiming the rugby league State of Origin trophy for New South Wales.

Bellamy has accepted the NSWRL Board's invitation to return as Blues coach next year.

There had been speculation he could stand down because he didn't enjoy coaching against so many of his Melbourne Storm players in the Queensland team.

Up north, and Brisbane is angling to re-ignite the career of one of it's favourite players with former Australian centre Michael De Vere keen to pull on a Broncos jumper again in 2009.

Brisbane chief executive Bruno Cullen is in crucial talks with salary cap commissioner Ian Schubert about adding De Vere to his club's playing roster.

De Vere, who left the Broncos in 2004 as the club's leading all-time leading scorer, says he's regained the desire and is eager to play for the Broncos again.

The move comes just two weeks after ex-Kiwis star Stacey Jones announced he was coming out of retirement to re-join the Warriors.

And finally to International news where Kiwis centre Steve Matai has been ruled out of the Rugby League World Cup final against Australia in Brisbane on Saturday because of injury.

Matai aggravated a neck problem in the first half of the Kiwis' pool match against England in Newcastle and missed the semi-final over the same opponents in Brisbane on Saturday.

Kiwis doctor Simon Mayhew has confirmed Matai's neck injury will keep him out of Saturday's final. Matai was set to have surgery after the World Cup, having carried shoulder and neck injuries through the Sea Eagles' run to the NRL title.