DANIEL Anderson had steered Saints through rocky waters when he took the helm from Ian Millward in 2005 – but despite delivering trophies and enjoying his time in south Lancashire he made it clear he would not be persuaded to stay.

That meant even before a first ball had been kicked, everyone knew that 2008 would be his last season in charge and the team strived to make it a winning farewell.

In the league Saints were more consistent than the previous year, despite losing the first game of the year at Hull KR.

That would be the start of Craven Park being something of a bogey ground for saints.

They would lose only five games that year – and finished the season a point ahead of a resurgent Leeds Rhinos.

Again the regular season Super League highlights came with big wins over Wigan on Good Friday, 46-10, and a 57-16 victory at Cardiff’s Millennium Magic.

Sean Long grabbed three tries in the Welsh capital as Saints powered to victory over the Warriors.

The other league highlight was provided by Long breaking Warrington Wolves hearts again.

The Wolves looked set to claim their first win at Knowsley Road in the summer era when they led 16-10 with four minutes to play.

But Lee Gilmour’s converted try turned it into a drop goal duel. Lee Briers missed his shot at the uprights, but Long made no mistake from 40 metres to make it 18 consecutive wins over the primrose and blue outfit.

Once again Saints enjoyed a run to Wembley starting with an easy win over London Skolars followed by a much tougher encounter at Craven Park where Hull KR were beaten 24-18.

Defences went AWOL for the televised 40-34 clash against Warrington with Saints booking a semi against Leeds.

Leeds had already beat Saints at Knowsley Road in the league, but they had avenged that at Headingley in the reverse fixture.

And that winning habit extended to the cup semi, with Anderson’s men triumphing 26-16 at Huddersfield.

Saints went to Wembley as red-hot hot favourites, and that tag was vindicated after they took an early 10-0 lead through Matt Gidley and Francis Meli tries.

But they had a rocky second half, with a brace of Kirk Yeaman tries putting the Airlie Birds ahead on 63 minutes and the Black and White hordes raised the roof.

It certainly caused a few palpitations but two minutes later Leon Pryce carved out a chance to send Meli over in the corner.

Jon Wilkin charged down and powered over to put Saints further ahead, but Hull kept battling with Gareth Raynor’s score keeping it in the melting pot until Pryce’s touchdown.

It meant Saints had won the Challenge Cup for three times in a row, with Paul Wellens winning the Lance Todd trophy outright a year after sharing it with Leon Pryce.

After winning the League Leaders Shield – a feat they achieved all four years of Anderson’s time in charge – the target then was the Grand Final and they looked untouchable as they blew Leeds off the park in the semis, winning 38-10.

Saints looked a class apart with tries from Gidley, Gardner, Meli and braces from Roby and Wilkin adding to the emphatic scoreline.

Whether it was a factor or not, but the final was played in torrential rain and Saints were never as comfortable despite taking an early lead through Man of Steel James Graham.

They trailed 12-6 at the break, with the cameras catching the normally cool as a cucumber Anderson giving his players, and the ice bucket, a rocket in the dressing room.

It was in vain, for although Gidley levelled Leeds regained their grip with a Danny McGuire try.

Gardner cut the deficit, but after Meli had made a hash of a kick Leeds’ lead was again an unassailable eight points.

The Rhinos, as they would do in subsequent seasons, knew exactly what to do to win at Old Trafford.

So with Saints just short of a clean sweep the curtain came down on the year and Anderson’s tenure at Knowsley Road.