Knights to sign Buderus for life - 9 February, 2005 
Australian Test hooker Danny Buderus is close to signing a new seven-figure contract with Newcastle that will ensure he remains a Knight for life. Buderus, voted by his peers as the best NRL player last season, has been in negotiations with the Knights for the past month and is keen to resolve his future before the start of the season. Newcastle football manager Mark Sargent and Buderus's manager Darryl Mather would not discuss financial terms or other details of the negotiations but were confident of reaching agreement by the end of the month for a three- or four-year deal. Buderus, who turned 27 last Sunday, said he did not want to endure a repeat of the Andrew Johns and Ben Kennedy sagas of last year. "I'm very, very happy here in Newcastle and I'd like to get it done as quickly as possible," Buderus said."I don't want it to drag on and on into the year, so hopefully Sarge and Darryl can sort something out before the start of the season and I can just focus on footy. This will take me through to 30 or 31, so it could be my last contract." 
Sargent and Mather hope to move closer to finalising the deal at scheduled meetings in the next two weeks. "We've had a number of meetings with Danny's manager and we're happy with the progress we've made," Sargent said. "There are a number of things that we need to agree on before a deal is finalised, but we've made some good progress to date. "Both parties are eager to resolve Danny's future as soon as possible, and we are optimistic that we can get this done before the start of the season. This would obviously make the job of retaining other key off-contract players before June 30 much easier." 
Apart from Buderus, who will be sidelined until April after having surgery to repair damaged ligaments in his right big toe, the Knights have Daniel Abraham, Mark Hughes, Todd Lowrie, Craig Hall, Steve Witt, Riley Brown and Reegan Tanner off contract at the end of the year. The club also has an option on prop Josh Perry.
Buderus’ existing three-year contract is believed to be worth about $250,000 a season, and expires at the end of this year, but he and the Knights were keen to settle his future as quickly as possible to avoid a drawn-out negotiation process. If he remained unsigned past the June 30 anti-tampering deadline, Buderus would be a free agent and one of the most sought-after players on the market. Given his status as one of the top three players in the game, Buderus could command offers of more than $400,000 a season from rival NRL clubs or English Super League clubs. Knights football manager Mark Sargent and Buderus’ manager Darryl Mather would not discuss financial terms or other details of the negotiation process but were confident of striking a deal by the end of the month. Buderus who turned 27 on Sunday said he was happy living in Newcastle and playing for the Knights and did not want to endure a repeat of the sagas last year surrounding the futures of Andrew Johns and Ben Kennedy (I’d add Timana to that list more than BK). “I’m very happy here in Newcastle and I’d like to get it done as quick as possible,” said Buderus.
Sargent and Mather kicked off negotiations last month and hope to move closer to finalizing the deal at scheduled meetings in the next two weeks. “There are a number of things that we need to agree on before a deal is finalized but we’ve made some good progress to date. Both parties are eager to resolve Danny’s future as son as possible, and we are optimistic that we can get this done before the start of the season,” Sargent said. 
Buderus has played 155 NRL games, making him the 10th most-capped player in Knights History, and 18 Tests for Australia including two as captain in last year’s Tri Nation Series. His nine Origin appearances for NSW include three as captain when he led the Blues to a 2-1 series win.
Buderus who has surgery last month to repair damaged ligaments in his right big toe has targeted the April 2 game against the Cowboys in Townsville for his comeback. Including NRL games, Origins and Tests, Buderus played more than 60 games in the past two seasons but said he had recharged his batteries and was looking forward to the season. “Mentally I am ready to go. My foot’s feeling good so as soon as I get it right and get my body right, I’ll be ready to rip in again. I can’t wait,” he said.

Buderus will dig toes in until he feels fit to play - 13 February, 2005, The Sun-Herald
Newcastle hooker Danny Buderus may miss more than the first four rounds of the season. He insists he will stay out for "as long as it takes" to recover from an injured big toe. Buderus, the Dally M player of the year and Rugby League Professionals Association players' player last year, has been earmarked to return from off-season surgery in the Knights' round-four match against North Queensland at Dairy Farmers Stadium on April 2. Buderus, who is negotiating a new contract that may mean he will stay at Newcastle for his career, started weights and pool sessions during the week and is getting about in a specially made boot that is due to come off on March 1. The Knights are hoping to expedite his return, especially given the club's injury crisis last season and the lethal attacking combination he will form again with halfback and captain Andrew Johns. But Buderus said no one should hold their breath. "I won't be rushing it," he said. "We have the bye in round three and I'm hoping to be back the week after that. But if it [the toe] isn't right by then, I'll back off. I know I'm going to start the year slow, but I'll take as long I have to."
Although coach Michael Hagan wants his hooker back as soon as possible, Buderus views the injury as a blessing in disguise. Last season was arguably the best of his career. He led NSW to a State of Origin series win and lifted so much in Johns's absence that he was named the best player in the competition. But it came at a price - physically and mentally. He ripped the ligaments surrounding the big toe in his right foot in round 21 against South Sydney and, had the Knights qualified for the finals instead of missing them for the first time in eight years, he would have been a doubtful starter. Instead, he enjoyed a small break before playing in Australia's Tri-Nations series victory. When he returned, he could have had surgery immediately and been ready for the first round. But after a meeting with Hagan, he was granted an eight-week break to recharge. "I was burnt out, shattered," said Buderus, who has played every competition and representative match available to him in the past two years. "If I hadn't had this break, it would've made this season extremely long. And I learnt a hard lesson about playing too long with injury."
Despite his hectic schedule in 2004, Buderus says he is not averse to captaining Newcastle in the future despite the heavy toll it took on him. "If the opportunity came up again, if Andrew [Johns] isn't there, I'd love to do it," he said. "I wouldn't say I was a reluctant captain. The only disappointing thing about being captain last year was that it meant Andrew Johns wasn't on the field."
Meanwhile, Buderus refused to be drawn into speculation about his contract, saying "that's what you pay the managers for". But in his firmest indication yet that he was likely to re-sign, he said his decade of service for the club - which he joined as a 17-year-old from Taree on the NSW Mid-North Coast - would make it incredibly difficult to leave. "I just turned 27 last week," he said. "I've been here for 10 years. It does make it a large consideration when you're renegotiating."
Buderus's three-year, $250,000-a- season contract runs out at the end of this season. His manager, Darryl Mather, and Knights football manager Mark Sargent, met during the week to discuss a three- or four-year deal.

The cap fits for Buderus - 3 March, 2005 
DALLY M Medal winner Danny Buderus could earn more than $100,000 on top of the four-year contract he is poised to sign with Newcastle -- an instant beneficiary of proposed NRL salary cap amendments. NRL club chief executives yesterday discussed altering the game's third party agreements, allowing clubs to nominate two players who could receive financial benefits from club sponsors outside the salary cap. Buderus, who gave a welcoming speech at last night's NRL season launch at Walsh Bay, could attract additional payments of "six figures", according to his management company.  The NSW captain and Australian hooker is negotiating with Newcastle. He hopes to sign a deal worth about $1.3million. "I would anticipate having captained NSW and played for Australia that Danny would be a beneficiary of a third party arrangement from the NRL's perspective," said SFX management company's George Mimis. "You would imagine he and Joey [Johns] would be the excluded Newcastle players. I'm sure Danny could [receive financial benefits] worth six figures."
Buderus added: "I hope to finish my career in Newcastle and sort it out by the end of the month. The ball has started rolling." Clubs agreed yesterday that the proposal would be discussed and considered over the next 10 days with the NRL possibly implementing the plan for this season.  An NRL media statement read: "The benefits must reflect genuine commercial rates for the services being offered by the players and must be declared and substantiated by written contracts from the relevant company."  The new proposal could ensure fewer elite players switch to rugby union. NRL rules state that payments to players from sponsors already associated with a club are to be included in the salary cap.

Buderus forces Newcastle to think before he inks - 28 March, 2005
Newcastle's Danny Buderus wants to know what the club's management plans to do to help the team become a competitive force again before he commits to a new deal with the Knights. Buderus and his agent have been in negotiations with Newcastle and, according to the NSW and Australia hooker, most of the details have been sorted out. But he says he is seeking reassurance that the club will be doing its best to get the right sort of players to facilitate a rise up the competition table over the next few years. Last year the Knights missed the finals for the first time since 1996 and they have struggled at the start of this season with heavy losses against both Melbourne and Canberra followed by the bye. The loss of star players Ben Kennedy and Timana Tahu to other clubs at the end of last season, plus the fact the injured Buderus has been unavailable for the early rounds of this season and halfback Andrew Johns is still feeling his way after returning from knee reconstruction, has made it tough for Newcastle. Buderus, whose current deal runs out at the end of this year, is desperate to try to help the Knights out of a hole, but he also wants to be convinced they have the right plans in place. "I love the Knights and I definitely want to stay," Buderus said. "There are still a few things to work out with the contract, including whether it's for three or four years, but that shouldn't be too much of a problem. I don't think there is anything in the way of us coming to an arrangement on the financial side of things, but my competitive nature makes me want to be sure the team is going to be strong on the field. Financial security is one thing, but I enjoy myself by training hard, playing hard and winning games and while I will always put in, I also want to know what the club's plans are and what sort of players they may be looking to try to attract to the club. I'll be asking what the situation is in that area before I finalise anything. It's a critical time coming up for the Knights. Joey will probably only be there for two more years after this year and we have to make sure we get it right. There are good signs for our junior players coming through. We won the SG Ball competition last year and our Jersey Flegg team this year has some very good players in it. We just have to make sure we have the right experienced players for the good young players to come in and play alongside."
Buderus, 27, said he was keen for a four-year deal because it would probably mean it would be the last contract he would have to negotiate. "I'm looking at playing for another four years after this year and I really don't want to sign for three and then have to work something out again," he said. Buderus is out for at least another four weeks with shoulder and elbow injuries. He said he hoped to sort out his future before he resumed playing.

Bravery of Buderus -  Big League
As wonderful as 2004 was for Dally M winner Danny Buderus, he's paid for it and he knows he could never put his body through that torture again... in fact he would baulk going on the Tri Nations tour to the UK if he was in the same shape physically. Injured Knights hooker Danny Buderus has expressed concern over the prospect of a second consecutive Tri Nations tour at the end of the current NRL season, admitting he would make himself unavailable should he face similar injury concerns to those that plagued him late last year. Buderus, the NSW captain and Australian Test No. 9, has been ruled out until round eight this season following ongoing shoulder and elbow problems stemming from last year's inaugural tour. He has since admitted he overworked himself towards the back-end of the season, including pulling himself out of hospital to take part in Newcastle's round 26 win over the Wests Tigers before embarking on the Kangaroos' six-week tour of Britain, France and the United States. In total he played 31 games in 2004 excluding trials. Buderus, who ironically won the Dally M last year thanks to his determination to play through a chronic toe injury for the final two months of the season, said he would be reluctant to put his body through similar torture again.
"It was worth it because it got me the Dally M, but it also caused me a fair bit of pain over the off-season and in England", said Buderus, who has played a staggering 89 games over the past three years. Only Anthony Minichiello, Willie Mason and Shane Webcke have played more. I don't think I'd put myself through that again. I'd probable rest up for however long it took. You've got to look at your career down the track and it wil be interesting to see how everyone feels again this year come [Tri Nations] time." 
Buderus said he was hopeful his enforced seven-week hiatus to kick-off the 2005 season would prove beneficial towards the back-end of the year, but warned the current scheduling would eventually catch up on the game's leading players. "At the moment I just want to get out there and play - I've missed a few games so at the end of the year that might be good for me," he said. "Willie Mason is another one who will come back in round 18 and be fresh as a daisy. But if you played every game, every trial, every representative game, once again you are looking at 36 games or something. If I play every game from here on in - well that's why I had to get my shoulder fixed. To play other 20-odd games is a bit of a slog."
Buderus' concerns came as Newcastle coach Michael Hagan revealed the full extent of the hooker's courage towards the back-end of last season. The veteran No. 9 was hospitalized with an infected foot ahead of the final round clash with the Tigers and defied the club's wishes to climb out of his bed and play 70 minutes of the Knights' stirring 26-16 win. Hagan said there ws no way Buderus could have continued on into the finals had the side managed a top-eight finish. "He put himself through absolute torture with the pain he was in," Hagan recalled. "I could see him struggling a couple of weeks after Origin and the courage he showed over the final six to eight weeks of the season was phenomenal. We didn't expect he would play (against Wests Tigers), but even there we only pulled him off after 70 minutes. He's an incredibly resilient player. You've got to remember his game is based on him being quite physical, but he averaged around 79.1 minutes last year and a lot of that was spent playing in pain."
Whilst Hagain insisted the Knights would never stand in the way of players representing their state or country, Buderus claimed injuries were now inevitable for any player promoted to the representative arena. That fact was further highlighted this week when Broncos prop Shane Webcke, one of only three players to have played 90 games or more over the past three years, retired from representative rugby league citing chronic knee problems.
Bulldogs back-rower Mason (93 games) will also miss the first 17 rounds of the season with an ankle injury sustained on tour while Minichiello, the most prolific player in the NRL over the past three seasons with 96 games under his belt, has struggled with a hamstring injury this season and has already missed one of the Rooster's four games this year. "You look at guys like Shaun Timmins with his knee, Jason Ryles (shoulder) - every player that represents has to manage injuries," Buderus said. "That's just the way the game is. Everyone is getting stronger and quicker. Even if you look back at the first four games last year, I doubt they would have had the same instensity as this year and the game's only going to keep going that way. So it makes it difficult and sometimes you just need a break. Hopefully this lay-off at the start of the year will put me in good stead for later on, but we'll just have to wait and see what happens."

Buderus to see out his career in Newcastle -  8 April 2005
Kangaroos hooker Danny Buderus has signed a deal to remain with the Newcastle Knights for another three years, with an option for a fourth year. Last year's Dally M winner has been negotiating the deal for several weeks. Buderus is yet to play this season as he recovers from shoulder and elbow injuries. He said he was relieved the negotiations had ended and was looking forward to playing out his career with the Knights. "It's pretty much three years with an option, I think that's how they want to say it," he said. "Hopefully I can get four years... obviously that depends on how my body is travelling for the fourth year, but I'm pretty confident I can do that." 
Buderus is hoping to be back for the Knights' round seven clash with the Bulldogs at home on Sunday afternoon. The 27-year-old captained New South Wales in the absence of regular skipper and club-mate Andrew Johns last year and was Darren Lockyer deputy as Australian captain on the Tri-Nations campaign, captaining the team when Lockyer was hurt. He has played 18 Tests and is one of the most respected players in the game.

Knights star aims for Test side -  9 April, 2005
NEWCASTLE star Danny Buderus is planning a shock last-ditch bid to hold on to the hooking role in the Australian side for the Anzac Test after yesterday announcing he will remain a Knight for the rest of his career. The injured Test star ended speculation about his future by signing a new three-year deal with Newcastle worth around $1.2 million, with an option for a fourth year. Buderus is yet to play a game this season because of ankle, shoulder and elbow surgery and was initially expected to be out for a further three weeks. That effectively ruled him out of calculations for the Anzac Test in a fortnight. Penrith's Luke Priddis and Melbourne hooker Cameron Smith are considered the frontrunners in his absence. But Buderus revealed he hasn't lost all hope of playing against New Zealand after making a quicker-than-expected recovery. "I'm going to do everything I can to get back for the game against the Warriors on Sunday week," he said. 
"Even if I do, they [the Test selectors] may not consider me with only one game under by belt, which I would understand. But I still want to give myself a chance if I can. I'll do as much as I can in the next week and see how I go. But either way, I want to get back as soon as I can to help out the Knights. That is the main priority." 
The Test selectors will name a 22-man squad for the Test on Monday before culling the squad to 17 tomorrow week. It is not clear if Buderus would be automatically ruled out if he misses selection in the initial squad. The news on the star hooker's re-signing yesterday came as no real surprise. He said that the prospect of leaving the Knights when his current contract expires at the end of the season was never a major consideration. "I'm never going to live in a better place than Newcastle and I could never really see myself playing with anybody else," he said. "I'm just glad to get it out of the way. It is basically a four-year deal and I will be 31 by then, which will probably finish me up." 
Buderus said concerns about the club's precarious financial position were a factor during negotiations. "It's always a worry and everyone is a bit concerned at the moment," he said. "But Newcastle is a great club and I think it is always going to be around [even though] we are doing it tough at the moment both on and off the field. I've just got a lot of faith that the club can pull through it all. There is some exciting young guys coming through and the challenge for the players of lifting the club back up there is what it's all about." 
Knights captain Andrew Johns said Buderus' re-signing could not have come at a better time for the ailing club. "We would take any positive news at the moment the way things are going," Johns said. "Bedsy is one of the top one or two best players in the world so having him around for another four years is an enormous boost for the club. I can't wait to play alongside him again. We haven't had much time together on the field over the past few seasons." 

Knight Buderus set for Fitness Test
Newcastle hooker Danny Buderus will put himself through a rigorous fitness test on Thursday in a desperate bid to make his long-awaited comeback from elbow and shoulder surgery this weekend.  The NRL game on Sunday against the New Zealand Warriors is a big occasion for the struggling Knights, who are hoping for a packed house to witness the opening of their refurbished home ground.  After four games the bottom-placed Knights are yet to register a win - their worst start to a season in the club's 18-year history.  NSW Origin skipper Buderus was scheduled to play his first game of 2005 against the Bulldogs on April 24 but may make a surprise appearance this weekend.  Buderus visited specialist Neil Halpin for advice on his injuries.  "He said 'it's up to you to gauge how you're feeling'," said Buderus, who required arthroscopic elbow and shoulder surgery after sustaining a series of injuries on the Tri-Nations tour last year. I'll hopefully get through (training) tomorrow and play on Sunday. I'll do a lot tomorrow and see how it settles down before training again on Saturday morning and make a decision then."
Buderus needed some floating bone and cartilage taken out of his elbow and shoulder. "There's no pain and you can't do any more damage to it," the 26-year-old added. Coach Michael Hagan is desperate to have Buderus on deck to alleviate the pressure on chief playmaker Andrew Johns, who is gradually getting back to his best following his comeback from a knee reconstruction. "It's going to take more than one man to fix the way we've been playing," said a modest Buderus.
"It'll take a lot of hard work and keeping our heads down. Hopefully I can take off a bit of pressure off Joey."
The injury-plagued Knights have conceded a massive 176 points from four games and their points differential of -122 is 66 worse than any other NRL team.
"It's fair to say we want to forget about what's happened and regenerate by having a home win," said Buderus, whose team plays seven of its next eight games at home. "Hopefully we can erase a few memories but there's still a lot of work to do."
Johns has described the lean trot for the Knights as the lowest point in his illustrious career but Buderus said the players remained positive, although he admitted it wasn't easy. "Everyone's got a positive attitude," Buderus said. "It's hard at times because we're trying things but they're not coming off."
Meanwhile, Buderus backed Johns' comments that it was time for the club to privatise to guarantee its future. "We know we just have to move with the times because every club is getting stronger," the inspirational  No.9 said. We were the benchmark in playing a couple of years ago and a lot of clubs looked up to us.
"We're slipping a bit and that's shown in the results. It has to be done for the better of the club to make sure it exists."

Buderus gets set to talk the talk -  16/04/2005,  Newcastle Herald
WHAT Danny Buderus says will be as critical as what he does when he makes his first appearance for the year in Newcastle's crunch NRL match against the Warriors at EnergyAustralia Stadium tomorrow. Newcastle officials anticipate a full house of screaming fans as the Knights try to christen their new $30 million grandstand by recording their first win for 2005. The return of Buderus, who passed a self-imposed fitness test on his elbow, shoulder and foot yesterday, will give them their best chance after four demoralising losses to Melbourne, Canberra, North Queensland and Souths. He should tighten up Newcastle's leaky defensive line, especially around the rucks, and his presence at dummy half will take some heat off halves Andrew Johns and Kurt Gidley. Just as importantly, Buderus will open up the lines of communication in a team who have suffered in silence for much of the season. "No one's saying much to anyone so I'll definitely be encouraging the boys to talk more," Buderus said. "We've had a communication problem in defence, which comes on the back of fatigue from not completing our sets, so everyone's confidence is down. We just need to play field position, build pressure and try not to get ahead of ourselves so we can compete for 80 minutes. 
"I'm really looking forward to working as a unit with the pack so Joey's not worrying about the forwards and can concentrate on his game." 
Coach Michael Hagan said it was difficult to encourage young, inexperienced players to bark orders at more senior teammates "so Bedsy will be good for us in that regard.  He just tidies up so much and will strengthen how we play over the next few weeks," Hagan said. "He's coming back from three different injuries so there's a few issues he has to deal with mentally, but he's worked pretty well for the last four weeks or so and we're glad to have him back." 
Hagan said Luke Quigley would drop back to the bench alongside Matt Kennedy, Todd Lowrie and Daniel Tolar. Blake Mueller and Kurt Hancock will play Premier League. Buderus had convinced himself he was physically ready to play again and "now it's a matter of getting myself mentally right. I haven't had a pre-season so I haven't trained the hardest, but you've got to start somewhere and there's no fitness like match fitness," he said. The Warriors will be without suspended forwards Ruben Wiki, Monty Betham and Tevita Latu, and injured backs Brent Webb (back) and Tony Martin (shoulder), as they try to rebound from a 24-6 loss to the Tigers in Christchurch last Saturday. Wiki and Webb are among eight Warriors named in New Zealand's Test squad, but coach Tony Kemp was confident his players were focused on tomorrow. "With this competition, if you go in under-prepared or you don't show up mentally, you're going to get beaten," Kemp said. "We're just looking at building some consistency."

Buderus needs lift to hold NSW spot -  May 2, 2005 
NSW Origin skipper Danny Buderus believes he is behind Luke Priddis in the race for NSW hooker. The incumbent and captain from last year's 2-1 series win, Buderus was expected to continue his stranglehold of the hooking role. But offseason surgeries on his shoulder and ankle opened the door for Priddis, who has welcomed the chance to reignited his representative career. The Penrith hooker played well for Australia in the Anzac Test match and scored a wonderful match-winning solo try for the Panthers on the weekend. As the current Test hooker Priddis is ineligible to play for City this Friday and won't be able to press his Origin chances in what was traditionally the selection trial. Despite his absence Buderus believes Priddis has the NSW role already and it is up to him to get it back.
"He's got the jersey and I'm looking forward to the challenge," said Country captain Buderus. "It is up to me to get it back, knuckle down and play well."
NSW provided 10 Test players for the Anzac clash, and all of them are ineligible for Friday but considered walk up starts for NSW Origin. Buderus however denies this is the case and believes there is plenty to play for on Friday. "They say Australian Test players make Origin but there is injuries," he said. "Origin is over a six to eight week period, there is injuries and so many things can go wrong. We have got to put our best foot forward in City Country. We just have to go out and play each game and hope you play pretty well. The blokes that play well and impress the selectors and Ricky Stuart will get selected."

Last of the clubmen lead the way -  May 6, 2005
The respective captains in tonight's City v Country clash are among a dying breed of one-club men, writes Steve Mascord. One of them needed to know if his team would stay competitive. The other wanted to know if his club would stay in the competition. Craig Gower and Danny Buderus, the respective captains of City Origin and Country Origin tonight at Lismore's Oakes Oval, don't particularly have a lot in common aside from the fact they are both 27. Penrith's Gower is his club's skipper, and is embroiled in a constant battle for representative honours with Andrew Johns, Brett Kimmorley, Matt Orford and Brent Sherwin. Buderus, of Newcastle, is recognised as the best hooker in the world and only misses NSW and Australia's matches through injury. But one thing the Tri-Nations teammates do share, apart from age, is shiny new long-term contracts with their clubs. Each was signed in an atmosphere of uncertainty in the competition, with players waiting until June 30 and agents predicting a seismic shift in talent during the summer. Penrith were making dire predictions about the impact of the poker machine tax; Newcastle lost a major sponsor and were forced to consider privatisation. Yet Buderus signed for four years with his club which has yet to win a game this season. Gower decided to stay around for five. Both decisions, made in the past couple of months, are rated as powerful endorsements of the clubs involved and have already prompted others to sign. Yesterday at Oakes Oval, as players from both sides took part in training drills with kids and signed autographs, the Herald approached both players with a simple question - "why?"
"I was just thinking about my future, and playing at one club has been my goal since I started," said Gower, who made his debut against Gold Coast in 1996. "I want to play the most games for Penrith and that's pretty much my main motivation." That record is held by Steve Carter, with 242. "Seventy games, five-and-a-half years to do it," Gower said with a wink. Penrith chief executive Glenn Matthews sat down his captain and showed him graphs and charts, indicating where they saw the club heading over the term of his contract.  For Buderus, it didn't take paperwork to see where the club might be headed. A look at the competition table was enough. "For any player who wants to play out his career at the same club, it's not a difficult choice," he said. "It's what everyone wants to do. But it doesn't always happen."
For weeks, Buderus was reportedly close to re-signing, with the delays blamed on the Knights' financial state and other off-field woes. "I based my decision on what it has been like and what it can be like," he said. "Every club has it's cycle, that's the way it seems now, and hopefully we can only go up from where we are."
Buderus is rugby league's ultimate diplomat; a man who can be informal in interviews and simultaneously pick his words with enormous care. But his concerns about the future of the Knights are plain. "Assurances? You have to ask for that," he said. "I was told there'd always be a Newcastle Knights. I've worked all my life for that contract. It's the last contract I will sign, hopefully. It's four years. If my body's all right, I might get one in elsewhere … I always had faith they [Knights] were always going to be around and were always going to pay people."
Johns has led the calls for the Knights to be privatised and Buderus predicted: "There's going to be big changes up there soon, it's been well documented what our problems are. I just think we'll work through it."  But on the specific issue of privatisation, he said: "We've been pretty much told not to comment any more. The club's trying to attract sponsors and I suppose it's not going to help if we're talking about privatisation."
Tonight, Buderus is chasing his first win since the Tri-Nations final on November 27. For Buderus and Newcastle, it comes down to juniors, too - but also the money to retain them.  "I've based my decision [to stay] on the fact we've got a great Flegg side and a very good SG Ball side," he said. "They're three years or so away from producing a very good first grade side. The problem is holding onto those players."  Penrith and Newcastle could do worse than put Gower and Buderus in charge of recruitment. They may go down in league folklore as the Last of the Clubmen.

Big League Round 10 Edition: Buderus: I was too frustrated
Stand-in captain Danny Buderus admits his frustration over Newcastle’s winless start to the season has finally reached boiling point after he was sin-binned for relentless back-chat during the Knights’ 32-2 loss to the Sydney Roosters last Sunday. Buderus said his reaction was the pent up frustration of eight consecutive losses and the mammoth injury toll that has plagued Newcastle’s season. "It was frustration at not being able to win a game," Buderus said of his indiscretion. "One thing eventually leads to another and in the heat of the moment I went too far. A few times this year we’ve been close to winning but through a lack of experience or whatever we’ve let it slip away. We’re playing enthusiastically at times but that’s all we are doing. The combinations aren’t there. We had a halfback on the weekend, Dane Campbell, that didn’t even train with the team (when Steve Witt was injured in the final session of the week). Every week there’s a different hurdle. We’ve got no structure and no combinations and it’s incredibly frustrating." 
Buderus said he’d never experienced an injury toll like that currently plaguing the Knights, with a dozen players sidelined, most long-term. "It goes in cycles and I guess this year it’s our turn," he said. "I’ve been privileged to play in some very successful teams but it’s not the way it is anymore. I guess it’s how you respond to it – we’re trying to stay as positive as we can."

Losing is a habit -  9 May 2005
Losing may be a habit but it's one that can be broken, according to Newcastle Knights skipper Danny Buderus speaking to Brad Fittler and Russell Barwick on NRL Deluxe. Buderus said that a lack of confidence in attack and basic errors were letting the Knights down in their disappointing start to the season. But the Test and State Of Origin hooker also spoke of his optimism for the long-term future of the club, given the quality of talent in their youth system, and the imminent return of some of their senior stars. 

Buderus out to end long wait for win -  June 9, 2005
DURABLE NSW captain Danny Buderus last night reflected on seven months of anguish and suffering, a gruelling 194 days since the star hooker savoured his last victory. Determined to maintain an upbeat exterior despite a nagging internal pain, Buderus has to travel right back to the Tri-Nations final in Leeds last November to remember his last win. And despite NSW being dramatically upstaged in golden point extra time in Origin I, and Newcastle remaining winless this year, the Dally M Medal winner insists that next Wednesday's Origin II will be the day he breaks his duck for season 2005.  "The feeling is becoming all too common, which is not a good feeling," Buderus said. "You keep on shaking yourself off on Monday, but it is tough times. In saying that, every game I'm looking forward to I think we're going to win. I'd love to get one up on Wednesday night. It's hard but you can't stress too much about it. I know things will turn around for us up there. It's a tough period. It tests your character out. It makes you want to win more because things are never easy. That's the major thing. I think we've got the team to win this second one. It's do or die and it's going to be a great contest because they've got nothing to lose and so have we, so we're not going to die wondering." 
Making the difficult plight of Buderus even harder at NSW training at Coogee Oval yesterday morning was news of internal strife rocking his beloved Newcastle club overnight. Football manager Mark Sargent has resigned and coach Michael Hagan has refused to guarantee his position beyond this season, entitling Buderus to wonder whether there is any light anywhere at all. We have to stick together and have confidence in the administration to do their job," Buderus said. "The board is aware of what has to be done from our point of view if we are to get back on a level playing field with the other clubs in the competition. 
Buderus trained with the rest of the NSW squad at Coogee Oval yesterday, with back-rower Craig Fitzgibbon and bench star Craig Wing both sitting out the session. The reasoning behind Fitzgibbon was "soreness", while Wing will refrain from training until his strained calf can handle running. The NSW squad will travel to the north-western NSW town of Dubbo today, where they will conduct school clinics and stay overnight. "I'll be fine. It's just a bit of soreness - nothing to be concerned about," Fitzgibbon said. "I'll probably rest up again tomorrow and then be right to rip into things after that hopefully." 
The other combination that drew attention at Blues training yesterday was Braith Anasta and Trent Barrett, the two five-eighths who will represent NSW in the halves. When the first ball work session began Anasta appeared slightly timid, for all of about two minutes, before the pair began to combine as if they had been playing partners ever since their junior days. With coach Ricky Stuart barking instructions, Anasta conducted the Blues' left side while Barrett organised and guided things on the right - the session appearing to be tuned down to the second. The easy thing for both Anasta and Barrett to get a grip on is the fact the two play left and right side at their respective clubs, the Bulldogs and St George Illawarra. While the sceptics question the logic of having two ball-running five-eighths, the evidence on show at Coogee Oval suggested it was a calculated gamble worth betting on. "Trent plays right side and I play left in club footy, but if we both need to alternate first or second receiver it's not a major deal," Anasta said. "Trent also has experience playing halfback too, so I'm sure we can do it successfully." 

Joey just one of Danny's boys -  June 13, 2005
The return of Andrew Johns has the NSW team buzzing, but captain Danny Buderus warns that even the unexpected presence of the world's greatest player is no guarantee of success. Not in State of Origin. Greg Prichard talked to Buderus.
SMH: The NSW forwards have been criticised for not sticking up for each other in Origin I. [Former NSW prop] Mark Carroll said the Blues let Queensland forward Carl Webb put one over them when he monstered [Blues prop] Luke Bailey. Is that criticism warranted?
BUDERUS: I don't think you'll see that happen again. I think you've got to take the circumstances into account. It was late in the first half and everyone was just so buggered. We'd had no ball and we'd done a heap of tackling. Plus, times are different now to when some other guys were playing. You don't know if the third man in will be sent off. But we can definitely do things better.

SMH: If Carl Webb tries to stand over someone in Origin II, will the NSW team respond?
BUDERUS: You blokes have been trying to get that story up all week. We will be working as a unit, the same as in Brisbane. I'm sure no one will be left posted on either side.

SMH: Does Andrew Johns being back take pressure off you as captain?
BUDERUS: I'll be comfortable, put it that way, with Joey there. He'll call a lot of the shots. We've played in a lot of big games together, so I know how valuable he can be in a game like this. He's a big-game player, simple as that.

SMH: Does it feel weird to be captain with Johns in the team?
BUDERUS: When I'm captain at Newcastle I give the job back to Joey when he comes back. It's different this time - it's just the way it works [with the NSW team]. It's not an issue between us.

SMH: What has the reaction been from the players in the team who haven't played with Johns before?
BUDERUS: Every player wants to play with Joey. Even BK [lock Ben Kennedy] is excited about playing with him, because he thought he might not play with him again [after leaving Newcastle for Manly]. Joey has that ability to come in and make everything feel so comfortable and crisp at training, because he's that good. Everything goes like clockwork. But it won't be that simple on Wednesday night and we've spoken about it as a group so no one thinks just because Joey is back, it automatically means we're going to win.

SMH: Newcastle have not won a game this season and you haven't played in a winning team since you were a part of the Australian side that won the Tri-Nations final last November. Does that affect your confidence?
BUDERUS: The feeling is becoming all too familiar. It's the lowest feeling you can have as a player, to go this long without a win. But, while it doesn't feel good, it doesn't affect my confidence. After I lose, I can't wait to play the next game. It just makes me more determined to win next time. I hate losing.

SMH: The Blues have to make the Queensland forwards work harder in game two, don't they?
BUDERUS: The opportunity to do that comes through possession. Who knows? The same thing might happen to us again early. It might be even worse. But we've got confidence in each other. That first game is gone now and we know we're capable of turning the tables and doing the same thing to them.

SMH: What has Ricky Stuart emphasised in preparation for game two?
BUDERUS: The things that we can do better. Our kicking game is one thing we can improve on from game one - we have to finish off our sets better. We can also put more pressure on them in various ways.

SMH: Can NSW do more to limit the effect of [Queensland five-eighth] Darren Lockyer?
BUDERUS: Because of all that defence we had to do in game one, we couldn't put good pressure on him. Our players were out on their feet. If we can get a better share of possession on Wednesday night we can put him under good pressure. I'm mainly talking about pressuring him when he kicks. It saves a lot of petrol if we're not returning the ball off our own line all the time.

SMH: What about their dynamic little men; Billy Slater, Shaun Berrigan and Matt Bowen, for example. What can you do to minimise the chances of their producing a matchwinning play?
BUDERUS: Starve them of the ball as much as possible and support each other in defence. They are going to beat defenders at times, but if we work together in a line then hopefully the bloke next to the one who has been beaten is going to make the tackle.

SMH: When you are together at the Knights, do you and [Newcastle and Queensland coach] Michael Hagan discuss Origin?
BUDERUS: Hages is generally pretty casual about things, so Origin doesn't come into it all that much. When he's at the Knights, he concentrates on the Knights.

SMH: Is it uncomfortable at all, when your club coach is the Queensland coach and you're the NSW captain?
BUDERUS: Not at all. Our relationship doesn't change.

Knights sweat on Buderus - April 15, 2005 
NEWCASTLE Knights coaching staff will make a decision before noon today on hooker Danny Buderus and his return to the besieged team. The Knights, languishing at the bottom of the table and ravaged by injury, play New Zealand Warriors at home on Sunday. Buderus trained for two hours with his teammates yesterday at EnergyAustralia Stadium. "We'll see how he is in the morning," Knights coach Michael Hagan said. 

One of those Knights: Hagan - June 16, 2005 
FOR the last NSW try Danny Buderus just watched and waited on the left as Andrew Johns moved to the right. Buderus knew the ball was coming back. Knew the move to the right was a feint. And it was. Johns moved to the right, looked to the right, shaped to pass to the right and convinced everyone in the stadium he was going to give the ball right, except two people. Only Buderus and Queensland coach Michael Hagan knew what was coming. It was a move that had Newcastle written all over it. Johns and Buderus were two Newcastle teammates lifting their club combination to Origin level. And Hagan as their Newcastle coach knew what was coming. And sure enough at the last second Johns turned slightly to the left and caught the patient Buderus with a pass to score. Hagan had warned his Queensland players about club combinations in the NSW side. He could just as easily have warned them about the humiliation involved in just turning up and trying to stop a Blue juggernaut. Johns was the artist last night but someone has to unearth the marble that becomes the statue under skilled hands. "If Danny Buderus and the rest of the players didn't perform as well as they did Andrew Johns doesn't get to play as well as he did," said NSW coach Ricky Stuart. They [Johns and Buderus] have an amazing combination. "I've never seen one better." 
Stuart's tribute to all of his players for building a foundation for Johns to star was accurate and generous. But it is impossible to overlook the devastatingly overwhelming performance Johns gave last night. He effortlessly elevated himself into the rarest pantheon of Origin stars with a performance so dominant it blotted out the other players like an eclipse. We should all say a thank you this morning to the man who invented videotape. Thanks to him Johns' performance last night will live through the ages as an indelible definition of a class performance that redefined commitment and genius in Origin. To perform at any time as he did last night would be amazing. To perform on such a limited preparation defies human endurance. There has not been a more dominant performance by anyone at Origin level including Queensland legend Wally Lewis but he did it for a decade. Johns is at least the greatest NSW player and as Stuart said: "Johns has the same bearing on Origin as Lewis." Hagan came to the media conference with the glazed look of a man who has seen the future and doesn't want to go there. In game one Queensland led 19-0 then needed an intercept try in extra time to win. Last night they led 12-8 at halftime and were crushed in the second half. They are missing players and only a miracle will give them a win in the deciding game in Brisbane next month. Johns said politely that it was good to be back and that he has missed Origin football. Not as much as we have missed you, Andrew. 

Blues brothers call Origin tune - July 8, 2005
NSW coach Ricky Stuart was prepared to do whatever it took to ensure Newcastle's Blues brothers, captain Danny Buderus and field marshal Andrew Johns, played in the State of Origin decider in Brisbane on Wednesday. Such is his regard and respect for the unique understanding between the NSW hooker and halfback, Stuart would have given Buderus until game day to prove his fitness if necessary. Buderus became only the second New South Welshman in Origin history to lead his state to successive series wins when the Blues crushed the Maroons 32-10 in game three.

Johns' ultimate compliment for Buderus
Newcastle skipper Andrew Johns has paid teammate Danny Buderus the ultimate compliment, describing the Knights and Australian Test rake as the best rugby league player he has ever played alongside. Johns was at his best again on Saturday night as he led the Knights to a 44-14 NRL demolition of Cronulla at EnergyAustralia Stadium, but the mercurial No.7 deflected all the praise onto his teammates. "It helps with the blokes around me, especially the bloke at hooker," Johns said after the win, the clubs sixth in a row. I suppose I take a lot of the cream off top but he's (Buderus) the one doing the hard work. He is dead set the best player I've ever played with in my life. People ask me who's the best player I've played with, they say (Darren) Lockyer is, but I reckon Bedsy's right up there, the heart of the lion."
Buderus cut the Sharks marker defence to ribbons while also getting through a mountain of defensive end. But while the NSW Origin skipper may be the one doing all the hard work, Johns makes a huge difference for the Knights, with the midfield general at the heart of all his side's attacking raids. He scored one try himself, grubbered for another and delivered delightful short balls for another two, and also kept the Sharks on the back foot with pinpoint long kicking game.
"I think I've played better but not smarter," Johns said. "(A) bit old and wiser and not going as crazy as I used to on the field trying to smash blokes, I'm looking after myself a bit better."
With the Knights having gone winless through the opening 15 rounds of the season, Johns said there was a lot of disappointment amongst the camp given their good form heading into the upcoming finals series, of which they will play no part in. "It just goes to show if we had had our full team on then we're a chance," Johns said.
"It puts us in good stead for the off season. If we could have pulled off three or four wins at the start of the year who knows what could have happened."
"I don't really think if we had pressure on or not it'd be different."
Having endured a horrific run with injuries, Newcastle coach Michael Hagan is obviously looking forward to having his full squad available for the majority of next season. He has seen a glimpse over the last two months of what his side can produce if healthy, and without the added pressure of Queensland State of Origin commitments in 2006, Hagan is optimistic he can guide his side back to finals football. "Given the team we've got on the field, I'm pretty excited about Kurt (Gidley), Andrew (Johns) and Bedsy playing together, " Hagan said. "(Centre) Brad Tighe was exceptional the first half, a couple of really good touches.
"We've got a lot of pace there and a lot of skill." Now all that skill and pace just has to stay healthy.

Buderus leads long exemption list -  September 01, 2005
NSW skipper and certain Tri-Nations tourist Danny Buderus heads the list of players expected to be exempted from the Prime Minister's XIII side to meet Papua New Guinea this month.Australian Rugby League officials are yet to determine the selection guidelines for the invitation game, to be played in Port Moresby on September 18. However, it's understood players in line for the end-of-season tournament involving Australia, Britain and New Zealand will sit it out, ensuring they are fresh for the bigger matches. "At this stage of the game we're mindful of the number of games these people are playing," ARL chief executive Geoff Carr said. 
"We don't want to overdo it if there's an opportunity for some young up-and-coming players to get a chance." 
Buderus missed the opening month of the premiership with a foot injury but has played without a break since. The Tri-Nations tour will mark his third end-of-season trip in as many years. His Knights team-mate Steve Simpson could also miss the PNG game as he edges towards regaining his Australian jumper. 
Simpson has been a mainstay in the Newcastle and NSW sides this season, all but carrying the Knights pack at the start of the season. "We'll talk to the (Australian) coach about it," said Carr, who will meet Wayne Bennett on Friday. Selectors will then name a touring squad on Monday from the seven sides that miss out on the top eight. Clubs have been asked to submit lists of players unavailable for the game through injury. "I have to have a talk to Danny and Steve Simpson," Knights chief executive Ken Conway said. "They (the ARL) were going to come back to me and tell me whether potential Tri-Nations players would be excluded. They haven't come back to me yet. It's a matter of them telling me whether Danny Buderus and Steve Simpson should be excluded or not." 
The absence of several leading players is likely to create opportunities for others, including South Sydney's Ashley Harrison and Canberra's Clinton Schifcofske. Young Rabbitohs five-eighth John Sutton is also likely to feature after an outstanding rookie season. Meanwhile, NRL chief executive David Gallop has written to New Zealand Rugby League chief executive Selwyn Pearson reiterating the game's commitment to international football. 

Brainy Buderus: fire in defence is key to title - August 15, 2005
The Newcastle brains trust of coach Michael Hagan and star players Andrew Johns and Danny Buderus still think Manly are capable of making a bit of noise in the finals, despite the fact the Knights beat them yesterday. But they settled on the top three of Brisbane, Parramatta, and St George Illawarra when it came to which teams could win the premiership, with Johns and Buderus going for the Dragons and Hagan saying he couldn't split them. Johns originally settled on Brisbane, but when told St George Illawarra had beaten the Broncos 24-4 at Suncorp Stadium yesterday he changed his view. "I didn't know that," Johns said. "Well, I guess I'd probably have to say the Dragons now."
Buderus said the Dragons were particularly dangerous because they had the determination in defence to back up their brilliant attack. "I like the way their defence is looking," Buderus said. "They can make teams crack with their attack or their defence. The Dragons are my pick."
Hagan said he didn't see a lot between the Broncos, Eels and Dragons and it could come down to variables on the day. Manly had the ability to be competitive but needed to improve key aspects of their game. "They were disappointing in terms of the lack of pressure they put on at the end of their sets today," Hagan said. "You can't expect to win big games if you can't apply pressure."  Johns said of Manly: "They play a good style and they've got a chance of doing something but they're going to have to pick up a gear from here."   Buderus said: "It's all about how you turn up on the day. Manly will be in the finals and how far they go will depend on how they turn up."
After round 23 the top eight have broken away by three points from the ninth-placed Bulldogs. And the top four - Brisbane (34), Parramatta (32), St George Illawarra and Wests Tigers (both on 30) - have moved away from fifth- to eighth-placed Melbourne, North Queensland, Manly and Cronulla (all on 26). Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett said the final eight was now just that - final. "Yeah, I think it is," he said after the Broncos' 24-4 loss to St George Illawarra at Suncorp. "You've got three games to go … a three-point break on the rest of the field. The Roosters play the Bulldogs? I think probably the eight is settled."
Dragons coach Nathan Brown and skipper Trent Barrett refused to concede their side was now favourite, replacing the Broncos. "They're still the benchmark," Barrett said. Brown said: "I think they deserve to be the favourites still. "They touched us up earlier in the year. Today they played better than what they have … the week before the grand final, they'll be playing someone to challenge for the grand final. "We've probably earnt the right to be in the top few sides at the moment … at least we've played consistently well. If we're favourite, so be it. If we're not, who cares?"
Bennett said there was plenty to like in his team's showing. "We're on an upward [arc] after our last three or four indifferent weeks," he said. "Today we played some pretty good football, probably cost ourselves a little bit at times with some impatient football."

Bennett calls Buderus a great -  October 13, 2005
NATIONAL coach Wayne Bennett isn't one for big statements but he made an exception with Danny Buderus as the Kangaroos prepared to open their Tri-Nations campaign, describing the Novocastrian as one of the finest hookers to have played the game. Bennett delivered the assessment of Buderus as he sized up his team in the lead-up to Saturday night's Tri-Nations kick-off against New Zealand at Telstra Stadium. "He's one of the finest hookers that's ever played the game in this country," Bennett said. Buderus has been an integral part of the Kangaroos side for five years, with The Australian uncovering statistics that show no player has appeared more consistently for his country in that time. The Newcastle rake has played 18 Tests since making his debut against New Zealand in 2001, two more than Darren Lockyer. Front-rower Petero Civoniceva has played 15 in that time.
"He's the best hooker I have played with," Lockyer said. "Defensively a team will be up against us and they have to worry about our outside backs, they have to worry about Joey (Andrew Johns), then they also have to worry about Bedsy. When teams have to worry about a couple of players it opens things up for everyone, it makes it a lot easier." 

Buderus confident of overhauling Kiwis 
Australian hooker Danny Buderus believes the Kangaroos' Tri-Nations campaign is still on track despite last weekend's shock loss to New Zealand, pointing to the side's ability to rebound from an early setback last year to take out the tournament.  The Australians will seek redemption in Friday night's return match in Auckland after the defending champion went down 38-28 to its trans-Tasman rivals in Saturday night's tournament opener at Telstra Stadium. The Kangaroos had a similar slow start to last year's series, coming away from Auckland with a 16-all draw against the Kiwis in last year's tournament opener before recovering to win all four of their remaining matches, including a 44-4 win over Great Britain in the final at Leeds. "We've had our backs to the wall at times before and we've always come through," Buderus said. "We're not dead and buried, it's only the first game and we'll take a lot of confidence out of what will hopefully be a good performance on Friday night." 
Buderus said the team had taken longer than expected to overcome the rustiness in the squad, with many of the players playing little or no part in the NRL finals series. He said the team would be better for the hit-out, especially with every match a must-win game now if the side is to guarantee itself a start in the final. 
"There's no need to press the panic button, but there were a few areas that were pretty glaring (in Saturday night's loss) and we've fixed them up this week", the hooker said. "We're gelling well as a team and blowing a bit of rust out. It's a short week, which is a good thing for us if we're to turn it around. The boys would have liked to have played again straight away after the disappointment of last Saturday night." 
Buderus could be in for a busier night at Ericsson Stadium on Friday night, with back-up hooker Craig Gower left off the bench in preference for St George Illawarra skipper Trent Barrett. While Barrett could see some time at hooker, he is more likely to spend time in the halves or at lock for the Kangaroos, meaning Buderus could go the full 80 minutes against the Kiwis, a role he enjoys and fills regularly with club side Newcastle. "It's a bit different (not playing the whole game)," Buderus said. "When you come back in your second stint it's all about getting warm and keeping things upbeat, so I'm looking forward to hopefully playing a bit more time this week. It's hard to get on the ball when you get back after going off, but the modern game's so quick and fast, it's pretty hard to play hooker for 80 minutes in a Test match." 
The Australian squad arrived in New Zealand late on Wednesday hell bent on avoiding a second straight calendar-year loss for the first time since going down to France twice in 1978.  The last time they lost to the Kiwis twice in the same year was in 1953, but Buderus was adamant it was only a matter of time before the Kangaroos again asserted their authority. "We want to win every game and set a standard," Buderus said. "It's all about setting a standard, the high jump bar. Lots of people talk about this team and what it is, it's a great individual team and we've just got to gel as a unit." 
The squad will have it's first training session in Auckland on Thursday afternoon. 

Buderus ignores the criticism - October 28, 2005 
Danny Buderus has rejected criticism of his form leading into the UK leg of the Tri-Nations series and is confident his own game won't suffer despite the withdrawal of Andrew Johns. Buderus, an 80-minute player with Newcastle, was used in a far more limited role by Kangaroos coach Wayne Bennett during the opening Tests of the series against New Zealand. He played 55 minutes of the opening game, with Bennett interchanging him with Penrith's Craig Gower, while he was on the field for just 49 minutes in Auckland with Trent Barrett deputising. Buderus is aware there have been rumblings about his form but he is not concerned. "I've heard a bit of stuff on talk-back radio and in the media but I'm not too worried about it," he said. "I don't really care what is being said. The two games against the Kiwis were not a good guide because all we did in the first half of both games was defend." 
It is understood part of New Zealand's game plan was to target Buderus defensively in a bid to tire the Knights star and blunt his attack out of dummy-half when Australia had the football. Statistics point to the Kiwis succeeding with the tactic. In the opening game, Buderus ran four times for 34 metres after being forced to make 28 tackles. In game two, he was forced to carry even more of the defensive workload. In just 49 minutes, he came up with 30 tackles but ran only twice out of dummy-half for a gain of just eight metres. "It came down to possession and all I seemed to be doing was tackling," Buderus said. "You don't make the headlines for that but it's still an important part of the game." 
Buderus admitted he would have to come to grips with being interchanged and spending time on the bench, something he is not accustomed to at the Knights. 
"I've spoken to Wayne about my role and understand that it's going to happen and I have to get used to it," he said. "I've just got to be ready to make an impact when I get back on the field in the second half." 

Buderus' remorse - November 28, 2005 
AUSTRALIA skipper Danny Buderus yesterday claimed he would somehow attempt to "move on" after his side's horror loss.  Buderus was thrown into the captaincy role after a foot injury prematurely ended Darren Lockyer's campaign. Now the Newcastle Knights hero has to live with being Australia's leader when the Kangaroos were toppled as the game's No.1 nation. "This memory will stick with us during the whole off-season," Buderus said. "It will be very hard to take. 
But I suppose we have to try and move on. "It's no secret everyone wanted us to lose."