Get Me Outta Here ! - Chris
Anderson

The boarding call for Qantas flight QF43 to Auckland can't come quickly enough for troubled Kangaroos rugby league coach Chris Anderson.

The Australian team head across the Tasman today for the trans-Tasman international at North Harbour Stadium in Albany on Saturday, and Anderson is keen to distance himself from a situation surrounding his tenuous coaching role at the Cronulla Sharks.

Anderson and the club could be heading for court after he was issued with a third warning letter by Sharks president Barry Pierce last Friday.

It was the latest development in an on going battle between Anderson and a club he joined in 2002.

Anderson first fell from grace with club management and fans after forcing 2001 National Rugby League player of the year Preston Campbell from the club.

He also dumped a number of club stalwarts in a bid to remould the team. The Sharks missed the playoffs and finished a disappointing 12th.

To rub salt into the already painful wounds, Campbell was instrumental in Penrith winning this year's premiership for the Panthers.

Anderson's relationship with management deteriorated further when the club refused to offer his son Jarrad a contract next season.

He responded by refusing to work with his former assistant Greg Pierce, the president's son.

Cronulla have not revealed the content of the letter but Sydney newspapers today say the warning demanded Anderson not speak to Sharks players, coaching staff or attend club training facilities.

That raised the curious prospect of how Anderson is to communicate with Phil Bailey and Brett Kimmorley ? two Sharks players picked for Saturday's test and the three-test tour of Great Britain which follows.

"I'll have to see if I can talk to Noddy (Kimmorley) and Bails. If not I've have to do it through the management," Anderson said yesterday as the team trained here at Aussie Stadium.

Unsure of his legal position, Anderson said he simply wanted to get to New Zealand.

"The further we get away from Australia the more it will be out of my mind.

"It's not nice is it? It's a disappointing situation but I just want to focus on coaching football."

Anderson laughed off any sugestion the discord would affect the Kangaroos in the lead up to Saturday's test.

"This is a different thing and when they're wearing an Australian jumper all that other bullshit is forgotten."

Although the Sharks look to be manoeuvring to sack Anderson from the third year of his contract, he reiterated he would not stand down.

"I'm fighting to stay there, I won't be walking away," Anderson said.

"I'm excited about what's ahead for the Cronulla club. The club have great potential, we are only halfway through the rebuilding job."