FORMER Saints treble winning coach Daniel Anderson will be eagerly awaiting this month's World Club Challenge fixture.

Now Sydney Roosters' Junior Recruitment and Academy Manager, Anderson will see his current club line up against the Saints at the Totally Wicked Stadium on February 22.

Anderson guided Saints to a Super League title, a World Club Challenge, three Challenge Cups and four consecutive League Leaders Shields in his stay from 2005 until 2008.

But he won't be having divided loyalties on World Club Challenge night - he has to shout for his own team - but he has told the Sydney Roosters club website all about the soft spot he still has for the Saints and the town of St Helens.

Anderson said: “I still have many fond memories of St Helens to this day.

“The footy was great, I had a fantastic squad and still hear from some of those guys every now and then.

“We were very successful and lucky enough to win everything there was.

“The Challenge Cup, Grand Final, Minor Premiership and World Club Challenge.

“We had a cracking squad, and I have nothing but wonderful memories from that time.”

He explained that his affection from his time coaching in Super League went beyond playing matters - and is still searching for an Oz equivalent of Cottoms hotpot and Bartons red cabbage.

And it is clear he took real delight in helping deliver success for a 'tough old town'.

He said: "I loved living there, because it was a tough old town.

“It was a coal mining, glass making, rugby league town that had no more coal mining or glass making.

“Our home stadium had a lot of character and we didn't lose too many games while we were there too.

“It was an awesome and down to earth place.

“My family loved it, the kids were happy there and we were walking distance from the stadium so I used to walk to our games.

“I still haven’t been able to acquire the red cabbage and Lancashire pie that they used to do.

“Not that anyone would call that a delicacy, but it was a staple of that area,” he recalled with a grin from ear to ear.

Anderson left Saints for Parramatta, who he guided to the NRL Grand Final.

After an enforced spell out of the game Anderson joined the Roosters recruitment team in 2019.

Anderson was Saints boss the last time Saints won the World Club Challenge in 2007 - with their second win over Brisbane Broncos at Bolton.

As a Rooster he has no split loyalties for this one.

“First and foremost, I’m a Roosters man.

“I expect us to want to win the game and I know how seriously we're taking it.

“Everyone loves to win big games that has something attached to it, and that’s why the two best clubs of 2019 are going to go at it.

“I’ll enjoy watching it and I enjoy that connection, but I’ll be barracking for the Roosters,” Anderson said.