During his three and a half year tenure, Anderson lifted the League Leaders' Shield on four occasions - a staggering feat of consistency - the World Club Challenge title in 2007,the Challenge Cup three times (2006-07-08) and the European Super League in 2006.

In 2006 he also helped Saints achieve a national honour which had eluded the 13-a-side code since it was first introduced at the start of the Sixties – the prestigious BBC TV Sports Team of the Year Award - and as an individual was named Super League Coach of the Year.

Anderson also steered the club to the 2007 and 2008 Grand Finals when they were beaten on both occasions by Leeds Rhinos.

Chairman Eamonn McManus said: "During his time at the club Daniel has brought us unparalleled success and it is difficult to envisage his record ever being equalled.

"He has put the name of St Helens and the names and reputations of our players ahead of that of his own. His record has been achieved in style and with modesty and grace.

"Daniel has been a great advertisement for our sport as well as the club and I am sure that everyone will join with me in wishing he and his family every happiness in their future lives back home in Australia."

Recently retired club skipper Paul Sculthorpe said: "Daniel is a truly great coach and his success rate at St Helens speaks for itself. He is an extremely laid back guy but when he means business that is exactly what he means."

Scully added: "His defensive coaching has also brought the club on so much during his time here. "We have always been a flair team who were capable of scoring tries but defence wins games and Daniel sorted us out in that department and we pride ourselves on that aspect of the game. "

He went on:"I don't think he will be out of a job for too long in Australia as his record is absolutely exceptional – not only over here but when he was in charge of the New Zealand Warriors."

Anderson left England last week, jetting to the States for a short break before heading to his native country which he left eight years ago to pursue his coaching career.

"I was always eventually going to go home, " said the 41-year-old. " My family have followed me all around the world and now its their turn as we plan to settle in Sydney."

It will give Anderson the opportunity to sit back and relax and also reflect his time at Saints where he made many friends and gained a host of admirers at every level of the sport.

He said: "St Helens is a working-class town with very down-to-earth people. "The players are the salt of the earth and I've never coached a more talent bunch of guys.

"Nothing too much fazed them and they certainly don't blow smoke up their own backsides. They just handle ever day and as far as I'm concerned it has been an enjoyable lace to live."

Anderson can also take pride in his development of young talent – something he took a personal interest from day one of his appointment – and the talent which has flooded from the 'assembly line' is testimony to his thorough and meticulous work in this area.

"I've always considered myself very strong at developing young players and at my former club there were a number of unknown guys who reached first grade standard, " said Anderson.

At St Helens players like Paul Clough, Kyle Eastmond, James Graham, and James Roby will be the first to acknowledge the Australian's role - and that of his assistant Mike Rush - in advancing their careers and there may be one or two others who are now on the fringe of a first team spot and about to turn dreams into reality.