PARRAMATTA'S new coach Daniel Anderson plans to follow the tough mental approach of Manly's premiership winner Des Hasler to help rebuild the floundering Eels into a force in the NRL.

After signing a three-year contract with the Eels as the replacement for Michael Hagan, Anderson spoke of the massive challenges he faced and outlined his approach for next season.

"I want the players in blue and gold to have a good, tough attitude," said Anderson, the former Warriors and St Helens coach. "If we have that I think we can win a lot of games.

The Pirtek Parramatta Eels and Clubman of the year Krisnan Inu have narrowly missed out on accolades at the NRL’s One Community Awards Night, held in Sydney on Thursday.

Inu was nominated for the Ken Stephen Medal, the award for the player adjudged to have made the greatest contribution on and off the field during 2008, while the Eels were one of just four teams nominated for Club of the Year.

Three-time Challenge Cup winning coach Daniel Anderson has been appointed head coach of the Pirtek Parramatta Eels, signing a three year deal commencing in 2009.

He replaces Michael Hagan, who resigned in mid-October after two years in the job.