Angry Anderson leaves Storm

Anderson's Australians dominated the 2000 World Cup

Chris Anderson, the man behind Australia's World Cup victory in England last year, resigned from his coaching position with Australian National Rugby League (NRL) club Melbourne Storm on Monday.

Anderson guided Melbourne to victory in the 1999 NRL grand final but he has also coached Melbourne's rivals Canterbury-Bankstown.

Melbourne have started the 2001 season, their fourth in the NRL, in disappointing form, winning only two of their first seven matches.

"It's a decision made to benefit the club," Storm chief executive John Ribot said.

"We have to look at the future of the club and we firmly believe we can get this back on track."

Lengthy career

Anderson, who had a poor relationship with the club's management, said: "Things weren't working out between myself and the club and it was better that we end it now."

The club said Mark Murray, a former Queensland State of Origin coach, would take over this week after being in charge of Melbourne's feeder team Brisbane Norths for the first seven rounds this year.

Anderson played 232 games for Canterbury-Bankstown from 1970 to 1984 and eight tests for Australia from 1978 to 1980.

He left the Bulldogs to join Melbourne as the first coach of the new club at the start of the 1998 season.