WHEN big Paul Anderson found out there may be a coaching opening at Huddersfield Giants, he knew it was an opportunity he couldn't afford to miss.
At the age of 34, he realised at the start of the 2006 season it may well be the last for the former Great Britain prop.
That didn't prevent St Helens asking him to consider staying on for another season - a season in which they will have to defend their League and Cup crown.
But at that stage, the big prop forward had decided it was time to hang up his boots.
It could have been tempting for him to to have stayed on for another year on the back of a Super League and Challenge Cup double with the Saints.
Yet with an opportunity to go straight into coaching - and at a Super League club at that - he knew his playing time had come.
Whether he will feel the same when the new season gets under way remains to be seen.
But right now, Anderson doesn't have a single regret.
"My wife (Lisa) keeps on asking me if I'm missing being a player," revealed Anderson, who has joined the Giants coaching staff on a two-year contract.
"The answer at this very moment is 'no'.
"When I came to the decision this would be my last as a player - it was pretty early last season - I was very comfortable with it. I had made up my mind and that was it.
"I suppose some many have thought I would be tempted to carry on after Saints had had such a fantastic season.
"But the way I look at it, I couldn't have signed off my playing career any better.
"How many players can say the last game of their career was a Super League Grand Final?
"And how many players can say that in their final season they lifted the Challenge Cup? It's just a shame it had to be against Huddersfield!
"But what's re-inforced my belief that I've made the right decision is seeing the boys being put through it in pre-season training.
"With the way my body's feeling after such a long playing career, I'm absolutely delighted I can just watch everyone else suffering!
"I know I'm lucky to be able to get this opportunity at the Giants, because you always wonder what's going to happen once your playing career comes to an end.
"It's great that I'm still involved at a club at the top level, and with a set of individuals who I've already got to know really well. I think I'm going to like it here."
It's pretty clear Anderson is well aware that being a Super League coach is very different to being a Super League player - and not just in missing out on having to do the pre-season training!
But he doesn't regard that as any sort of problem.
"The challenges you face are obviously a lot different, I know that," he added.
"Right now, I'm spending a lot of my time learning how the backroom office works, but I did have a rough idea.
"It is a bit of a shock having to leave the house before seven every morning and not getting home until late.
"But Lisa knew that, and my boys, Jack (10) and Ben (6), know their dad is going to have a lot more on his plate.
"Fortunately, there have been no complaints so far, especially from me.
"I really am genuinely excited about what I'm going to be doing.
"There will be a lot of variety, split between working with the big fellas, helping out on the conditioning front with Ben Cooper and also taking some Academy sessions.
"It's going to be hard, but great!"
