After a frustrating start to 2024, Wests and Reds’ backrower Connor Anderson is looking to play his way back into Super Rugby while helping Wests push to go one better in the Hospital Cup later this season. 

Anderson suffered an ankle tear at Reds training in the first week of 2024 and spent the next nine weeks in rehab, returning just in time for Wests’ round one clash against UQ. 

The Bulldogs won that match and held on to beat Sunnybank a week later but Anderson admitted his side’s form had been mixed across the opening fortnight. 

“We had a really good performance against Uni. It was a good team win and we scored tries in a few different ways,” the 27-year old told Rugby News. 

“We were really happy with our defence as well, particularly our maul defence. 

“Against Sunnybank, we probably felt like we let ourselves down a little bit and didn’t play to our full potential. 

“But to come away with a win against a good Sunnybank team, even though we didn’t play to our standard, you’ve got to be happy with that.”

After falling short in a thrilling grand final against Brothers last season, Anderson said early signs at The Kennel were fairly positive despite a fair bit of player turnover from last season. 

“We probably had the same core group of players at the club for three or four years but that’s changed a bit this season,” he said. 

“I’m not going to say one side is better than the other, but I think we’re in a much better position now than we were at this same point last year.”

He said he’s been equally impressed with the Reds strong form through the first half of the Super Rugby season and said he’s doing everything he can to contribute in the push towards the playoffs. 

“I still haven’t played a heap of footy since coming back from my ankle but I want to compete and I want to get back in to the side. As much as I do love playing for Wests, Super Rugby is obviously where everyone wants to be. 

“I’ve just got to get more minutes in my legs to start with and that’s not an issue because I love playing Premier Rugby. 

“It’s a great environment at Ballymore at the moment and I really want to be a part of what the group is building towards.” 

First though, Anderson and the Bulldogs will travel to the Gold Coast to face a Bond side still finding their feet under new coach Mick Heenan. 

Bond lost to Sunnybank on opening weekend, then had a bye in round two but Andersen said everyone in Premier Rugby should know better than to write off any side coached by Mick Heenan. 

“Whenever a side has a new coach, there are always a few teething issues. We had the same thing when Elwee arrived a few years ago. 

“But you can’t underestimate any side coached by Mick Heenan, he’s just too good a coach. 

“Watching Bond’s footage, they seem to be playing a pretty similar style to what UQ played when Mick was coaching there. 

“We’ve obviously spent a lot of time playing against good Uni sides over the years and it looks like Mick is running pretty similar systems at Bond which should make for a good match up and a good game of footy.”

In the rounds other matches, Jeeps host UQ, Brothers play Souths and Norths face Sunnybank.