Former elite NRL coach Daniel Anderson has been overwhelmed by a new initiative by the league community as he faces his toughest test after a freak bodysurfing injury.
Anderson was left a quadriplegic after suffering catastrophic spinal injuries from a bodysurfing accident while he was holidaying on the NSW Central Coast with his family in December.
The 56-year-old was lucky to have survived after being dragged unresponsive from the water and resuscitated by lifeguards and off-duty paramedics, having gone into cardiac arrest.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson and Panthers counterpart Ivan Cleary, along with Eels great Nathan Hindmarsh and league chief executive Andrew Abdo, came together on Monday to launch the Unite for Daniel fundraising initiative.
Daniel Anderson during his time as Eels coach. (Photo by Matt Blyth/Getty Images)
The league will also work with clubs to fundraise for the champion coach in round 25.
Proceeds will go towards assisting Anderson with purchasing essential equipment, home modifications and ongoing specialist therapy.
Beaming in from the Royal Ryde Rehabilitation Centre, Anderson expressed his gratitude.
“I am overwhelmed. I am very grateful. Very privileged that I’ve had some minutes, hours, weeks and months with the guys on the front table. I can’t thank the game enough,” he said.
Anderson recounted how videos and messages of support from people from all corners of the world helped him through the darkest of times.
“It’s going to help me get better again and extract everything I can, and I look forward to going back to work and entering the community again in the next few months,” he said.
“This is all part of the pathway for me to get to what will be a new style of life for me.”
Two of Anderson’s proteges, Robinson and Hindmarsh, spoke of the immense impact he had on them in their playing careers, but also of how headstrong the former coach was in accepting help following his accident.
“This is why it’s hard for him because, as people, we feel sorry for him, but he doesn’t feel sorry for himself,” Robinson said.
“He does need our help, but it’s hard for him to say, ‘I need a helping hand’, so that’s why we’ve got to get behind him and help him because he’s delivered a lot to rugby league over many generations.”
Cleary recounted how when he was at the twilight of his playing career under Anderson at the Warriors, the coach had transformed New Zealand rugby league after rebuilding a club that had financially collapsed.
“We went from basically a basket case in 2001, where we were tipped widely to come last; we made the finals and then the following year, made the grand final,” he said.
Abdo paid tribute to Anderson’s exemplary coaching run when he guided the Warriors and Parramatta to grand finals in 2002 and 2009 respectively, and led UK Super League side St Helens to three straight deciders from 2006 to 2008, winning the championship in 2006.
“You’ve been a great contributor to the rugby league family, shaping many people’s lives, whether they be as players or whether they be as other stakeholders in the game,” the NRL chief executive said.
“And while the events that have occurred and unfolded to you are tragic, we want you to know that we’re here, and we get to help.”
© AAP
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