when south sydney first took to the field in 1908, anderson started in the side as a winger. shortly before half time, anderson had the honour of scoring south sydney's first ever premiership try. anderson was beaten to the record of the first rugby league try in australia minutes earlier in the easts (now the sydney roosters) vs newtown match at wentworth park. south sydney would go on to win the match 11–7. anderson quickly began the rapid rise to the top of the 'rugby league tree', soon averaging a try a match. for the 1908 interstate series, which saw the new south wales rugby league team's first ever match against their queensland counterparts, anderson was selected to play on the wing for the blues, scoring four tries in the 43-0 defeat of the maroons. anderson was chosen in new south wales first ever game against queensland. the match was held as a trial for the australian kangaroo's selection. anderson scored five tries in nsw smashing of queensland 43–0. anderson's name was again placed in the record books for the first ever try against queensland. his performance guaranteed him a spot in the kangaroo's squad. the kangaroo's set sail for great britain on the day the premiership finals began, forcing anderson and his south sydney team mates to miss out on south sydney's first ever premiership win. anderson played just five minor matches in great britain, and it is thought that his young age held him back from playing more. with the test series against new zealand already lost, the australian selectors went with anderson in the 3rd test, making him kangaroo no. 19. anderson slotted in at the centres with dally messenger. jim devereux was moved to the wing to allow for anderson. at the break, new zealand had a 6–0 lead. few opportunities came anderson's way. the ball was then shot out of the scrum to messenger who then scooted in for a try. new zealand would then score again to make the score 9–3. messenger and devaraux would soon combine and make an opening for anderson to run in the try out wide. the score was now 9–8 to the new zealanders. the home side were ripping into the australians in an attempt to quiet their less experienced opponents. these clashes had become so 'close-quarters' that anderson and robert graves both had their shirts ripped off. two late tries to, including one to a half naked robert graves, gave australia the win 14–9.