Buderus torn between Knights and Rhinos

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Danny Buderus torn between offer to return to Newcastle Knights and desire to do right thing by Leeds Rhinos

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DANNY Buderus has his first-born boy Lachlan, but it is the rebirth of his other great love that has the former NSW captain considering a shock move home.

Speaking for the first time about the speculation over his future, Buderus confirmed he has been approached to make a comeback with the Knights. First as a player, then as a coach.But it isn't that easy.
On one hand there is the Nathan Tinkler-backed offer to return to his beloved Knights next year. On the other, there is the contract he still has with Leeds.

"There is an opportunity to go back," Buderus said.

"There is an offer to play and then speak about a role after that. But everyone has to remember that I'm still a Leeds Rhino."

A man of his word, and loyal to the core, Buderus won't leave Leeds stranded, even though he wants nothing more than to wear the No.9 for Newcastle again.Remember, this is a guy who has only played for two clubs: the Knights and Leeds.


The Rhinos want him to be replaced with a player of his calibre or money if he goes."This place has been great for me and I'm not going to leave them if they aren't OK with it," Buderus said. "I have to pay the situation the respect it deserves. There is some red tape and I have to work through it."

The dilemma

Sitting down with the former Blues captain at his house in Leeds, as his wife offers coffee and his darling girl plays in the backyard, you can't help but think what a nice guy "Bedsy" is.

His family is picture perfect, and he is the inviting, charismatic host.

For a minute you almost forget you are speaking to one of the legends of the game. And maybe that's half the problem.

He would be signed, sealed and delivered to the Knights if he was, say, like Sonny Bill Williams. But he isn't.

"We need to come to an agreement on terms," Buderus said.

"I see a new horizon with the Knights and an opportunity for that place to be special again. It is just so exciting for the place, my boyhood club, and to see that happen is fantastic. I just want to be involved with it but not at Leeds' expense."

The love

Danny Buderus is blue-and-red to the bone. A Knights junior, he has been through the best of the times with the club (winning two premierships) and the worst (almost single-handedly carrying the team as creditors loomed). And he never wanted to leave.

"There were some tough times," Buderus said. "We have never had the support of a leagues club and everyone has always done things on the cheap.

"It has been extraordinary for them to survive, let alone be successful. To win two premierships with them was unbelievable."I learned a lot about myself and the club in my last couple of years. I just had to be there for the club.

"Whether they are good or bad times. you have to put your hand up and pull through."

New horizon

SOME were concerned about Tinkler's bid to take over the club. What is the rich man doing? Will the club be another of his toys?

Buderus never harboured such suspicions.

"It was just such great news for the club," Buderus said. "To have someone like that, and all his passion, is exactly what we needed. He will give us the support and backing we need."

That was reinforced when Tinkler pulled off one of the game's biggest coups.

"Tinkler was one shock but to also have Wayne Bennett on board is unbelievable," Buderus said.

"It is extremely exciting. I have had Wayne on tour and he is the whole package"

The offer

"It has popped up a few times," Buderus said.

"And it has been tough here. I was probably bought by a club that didn't need me. They had an established hooker, a great player, and I had to fight my way in.

"Straight away I went from being an 80-minute player to being a 40-minute player. That was tough, and I also had injuries.

"There were times I wondered whether or not I had done the right thing but it has probably prolonged my career and given me this opportunity to return if things work out."

The player

Buderus will be 35 next year and some would suggest that is too old for the NRL.

But he is as fit as ever and won't need to make 50 tackles a game to give an exciting young club the leadership it needs.

"With the injuries and the minutes I have played here, I feel fresh," Buderus said.

"And if I can go back, I think I will be able to offer a lot. I wouldn't consider it if I didn't think I was up to it.

"I am enjoying football and looking after myself. I don't think I would be a 40-minute player but I would be knocking out some good footy, no worries."

The future

"I would love to be involved anyway (even not playing next year) because I know what the fabric of the club is," Buderus said.

"I know, with the people we now have behind it, what it will be. I still think the Knights can be the Mecca of rugby league. Just look at the juniors and the supporters.

"Whether or not I end up there in a coaching role or a junior academy role, I just want to get back to the club because they have given me a lot."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-by-leeds-rhinos/story-e6frexnr-1226093465949
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Great read. I really hope he comes back and wins another premiership with us.
 
Sammyyy said:
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Danny Buderus torn between offer to return to Newcastle Knights and desire to do right thing by Leeds Rhinos

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Great read. I really hope he comes back and wins another premiership with us.
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Good on him!

Ever since I heard he was linked with Newcastle, I've wanted him to come back! Hope he does to, and wins us another premiership!

Your a legend Bedsy!
 
Great bloke and a club legend. Would be great to see him play one more season in the blue and red and have a fairy tale ending by winning a premiership. Unfortunately getting him across from Leeds sounds like it will be an uphill battle though.

I found this interesting:

"I don't think I would be a 40-minute player but I would be knocking out some good footy, no worries."

Expecting him to play big minutes at the age of 35 is a big ask and is probably unrealistic, but I found it a little odd that he doesn't even see himself as a 40 minute player in the NRL.
 
(.)(.) said:
Expecting him to play big minutes at the age of 35 is a big ask and is probably unrealistic, but I found it a little odd that he doesn't even see himself as a 40 minute player in the NRL.
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I reckon he'd be looking to do a 15 minute stint either side of halftime. Still no closer to working out who our first choice hooker will be next year. If it's Hilder we're in trouble.
 
I think they would finish the game with both Hilder and Buderus on the field, their defence would be a bonus and have a tiring big man on the bench that might be a bit fatigued in the final stages, its always the big man that misses the tackle on the line.

Bedsy wants to come home IMO i think he doesnt want to push the fact too quick or leeds might get nasty, he should just retire, come home, come out of retirement! do a Sonny Bill or something!
 
If we're after a hooker which we should be, I like the Jake Friend rumour.

Roosters are looking to offload him and we're interested.

Good young player who's on the up and up and can play 80 minutes. Can be our future and our present. Would thrive under Bennett IMO.
 
(.)(.) said:
If we're after a hooker which we should be, I like the Jake Friend rumour.

Roosters are looking to offload him and we're interested.

Good young player who's on the up and up and can play 80 minutes. Can be our future and our present. Would thrive under Bennett IMO.
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Probably the only issue with Friend is his off-field behaviour, beside that yeh he will one day make a great player.

Bedsy on the other hand brings so much positive energy in the way he plays and his off-field behaviour, even if he can only play 40mins they would be the greatest 40 minutes he can give.

have to agree that Hilder left alot to be desired in attack on Monday night, but in defense he is a machine.
 
(.)(.) said:
If we're after a hooker which we should be, I like the Jake Friend rumour.

Roosters are looking to offload him and we're interested.

Good young player who's on the up and up and can play 80 minutes. Can be our future and our present. Would thrive under Bennett IMO.
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I rate him too.

Only downer is I see too many similarities between him and Hilder, not too sure if he and Hilder would work as a combination from dummy half.

Added after 3 minutes:

Maddog78 said:
Probably the only issue with Friend is his off-field behaviour, beside that yeh he will one day make a great player.
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He did have some problems off the field in 2009, but so did most of the Roosters team!

Even their coach that year couldn't stay out of the headlines! He hasn't messed about since the valium incident with Carney.
 
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I think Friend is 10x the hooker Hilder is.

I also don't think his off field issues should come into question here. I'm confident he'd be on the straight and narrow under Bennett.
 
(.)(.) said:
I think Friend is 10x the hooker Hilder is.

I also don't think his off field issues should come into question here. I'm confident he'd be on the straight and narrow under Bennett.
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I believe so too, but both offer little impact.
 
(.)(.) said:
Great bloke and a club legend. Would be great to see him play one more season in the blue and red and have a fairy tale ending by winning a premiership. Unfortunately getting him across from Leeds sounds like it will be an uphill battle though.

I found this interesting:

"I don't think I would be a 40-minute player but I would be knocking out some good footy, no worries."

Expecting him to play big minutes at the age of 35 is a big ask and is probably unrealistic, but I found it a little odd that he doesn't even see himself as a 40 minute player in the NRL.
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I've got a feeling it's a typo and it's supposed to say 80 minute player!
 
NF_47 said:




He did have some problems off the field in 2009, but so did most of the Roosters team!

Even their coach that year couldn't stay out of the headlines! He hasn't messed about since the valium incident with Carney.
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Yet people don't want us to sign Greg Bird who had his own issues back then.

We are a finicky bunch us NRL supporters.

If we don't gt Bedsy I feel we have missed something by not keeping DeGois!
 
(.)(.) said:
Roosters are looking to offload him and we're interested.
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Are they? I always imagined they were going to try and do whatever it takes to keep him, as they stuck by him last year when he had off field problems.

Regarding Buderus, I am warming to the idea more. Though I hope this isn't an all eggs in one basket plan. And if he says he can offer a lot then I don't doubt him. He seems as passionate about the Knights even though he hasnt played for them in 2 years. I like that.
 
I really hope Bedsy comes back and I think he will. I watch him often play for Leeds and he's a class above the SL guys, I have no doubt he could still make a massive impact on the NRL and give our team that extra bit of zing it's been missing since he left. Just imagine a spine of Boyd, Mullen, Gidley and Buderus - it'll be right up there with Melbourne and everybody knows the makeup of your spine separates the good from the great. Surely he won't play 80 minutes, but when he's on the field the opposition are going to know about it. I'd like to see us do the rotation we did last weekend with Stig on the bench, bring him on into the halves, Gidley to hooker and Buderus to the bench. It's perfect, almost a fairytale lol
 
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