Buderus eyes slice of history; Herald. Jun 10, 2006. 
NEWCASTLE hooker Danny Buderus will emulate legendary NSW skipper Laurie Daley if the Blues beat Queensland at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday and wrap up the State of Origin series. NSW are one win away from becoming the first team in Origin's 26-year history to win four straight series, and this is Buderus's third straight year in charge. Daley, who led the Blues to a series hat-trick from 1992 to 1994, is the only other NSW captain to achieve that feat. Buderus was aware his place in history was within reach, but that was no extra motivation. "I have heard that, but really I'm just privileged to be part of such a good team," said Buderus, who last year became only the second New South Welshman to lead his State to successive series wins. "We're still a young team with plenty of running in our legs, so hopefully we can dominate for years to come."
Buderus was appointed skipper when Knights captain Andrew Johns was injured and unavailable in 2004. He has warmed to the task, stamping his own style of authority on the team and leading by actions more than words. "Hopefully I've got the right ticks in the right boxes, the way things have worked out. But I've been lucky enough to have always had good leaders and a lot of experienced players around me, and I've learnt a lot from all of them," he said. "You learn things along the way and hopefully get wiser as you get older."
Buderus said the Blues would not fall for the siege mentality which has descended on the Maroons this week. "They've got what they wanted now, with everyone writing them off. That's what they thrive on, and that's when they're at their most dangerous, so we've got to make sure we don't fall into that trap," he said. Buderus will see how he feels after Origin II before deciding whether to accept Knights coach Michael Hagan's offer of being rested from the NRL game against the Warriors in Auckland tomorrow week.

Buderus' crash course in kicking - ORIGIN III - THE DECIDER; The Daily Telegraph. Jul 4, 2006. 
NSW hooker Danny Buderus has undertaken secret kicking sessions as damning evidence shows Queensland is poised to kick the Blues out of this year's State of Origin decider tomorrow night in Melbourne. The Daily Telegraph can reveal Buderus has kicked just five times in general play this season for Newcastle while new NSW five-eighth Mark Gasnier has only kicked on seven occasions for the St George Illawarra Dragons. Queensland's four kickers -- Darren Lockyer, Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston and Clinton Schifcofske -- have kicked 208 more times than their NSW rivals in this season's NRL competition. Buderus revealed last night he had been given a crash course in kicking and was spotted practising with NSW coaching staff after a training session. The lack of kicking expertise of Buderus and Gasnier is seen as NSW's greatest gamble against Queensland at Telstra Dome tomorrow night. With Buderus and Gasnier to be makeshift kickers, the main kicking responsibility will fall onto new NSW halfback Craig Gower. Asked was Buderus going to kick, NSW coach Graham Murray said: "He's been practising."
Buderus said he's ready to accept any kicking challenges. "Queensland keep making it an issue that we only have one kicker," Buderus said. "But we are pretty confident we have it covered. I think if you do a good job in the forwards, then it puts us on the front foot anyway. I've never really had to kick because I have Andrew Johns there (at Newcastle). But Cameron Smith has shown what a benefit it is to be able to kick from dummy-half and it's something I'm looking to work into my game a bit more."
Queensland five-eighth Darren Lockyer has kicked 93 times this year to Gasnier's seven. NSW's lack of kicking has concerned former Blues halfback Steve Mortimer. "I have my fingers crossed for a NSW win but if you look at who has a better kicking game -- and it's all about field position -- Queensland would have to be favourites," Mortimer said.

Knights looking for leadership; Danny poised to lose job as club gets a reputation - Herald. Aug 18, 2006. 
MATT Gidley or Steve Simpson is likely to be named Newcastle captain for tomorrow night's NRL clash with the Cowboys as the Knights try to improve on-field relations with officials. NSW captain Danny Buderus is usually an automatic selection as skipper in Andrew Johns's absence, but he is poised to lose the job because he also has a history of being confrontational with referees. Johns's two-match suspension for abusing touch judge Matt Cecchin has forced Knights coach Michael Hagan to take steps to avoid more clashes with officials. Hagan said he would speak to the players about on-field discipline at today's team meeting before training in Townsville. Hagan did not name a captain at the weekly team announcement on Tuesday but said the Knights would use a leadership group of Buderus, Gidley and Simpson. The team captain must be named, along with the team, an hour before kick-off. The captain is the only player allowed to confront the referee about on-field decisions. When asked who would be in charge of dealing with referee Sean Hampstead, Hagan replied: "We will sort that out between now and then."
The Knights' image has suffered this season after two incidents of players abusing match officials. Winger Anthony Quinn was penalised in the Knights' loss to the Storm last month for a barrage of four-letter words directed at touch judge Russell Turner. Johns was then warned by referee Paul Simpkins for swearing when he approached him to discuss the penalty given against Quinn. The matter came to a head this week when Johns was suspended for saying "f--- you, c---" to Cecchin.
"Danny will be one of our on-field leaders," Hagan said yesterday. "I think we've got an hour before kick-off to announce our team and our captain.
"I think the players just need to concentrate on playing and not get too concerned with the officialdom at this point. The discipline has been discussed, and I'm not going to comment on it too much other than to say that we know that we must be disciplined across the board."

Buderus could use Gillmeister style as spear-tackle defence; RUGBY LEAGUE Sep 10, 2006. 
NEWCASTLE hooker Danny Buderus expressed remorse yesterday for the spear tackle on Manly's Michael Robertson that threatens to rule him out of the finals, and admits the possibility of missing a grand final berth is too painful to comprehend. Buderus, who hasn't been suspended in 10 years of first grade, will be charged by the NRL match review committee tomorrow for his tackle on Robertson in the 76th minute. His season will go on the line with his near-certain appearance at the judiciary on Wednesday night. Buderus said yesterday he would be shattered if his season was terminated. He said the tackle had happened so quickly he could barely recall it. "He's one of the fastest players around," he said. "He was going as quick as he could and I was going as quick as I could to try to stop him. I went in low. I was trying to go in as hard as I could. That was all I was trying to do. I think he might have spun a bit. I wasn't trying to drive his head anywhere near the ground. I don't even know where his head ended up. There wasn't any malice in it. I was just trying to stop him from scoring. You haven't got time to think out there, let alone have time to have any intent. I wish it hadn't happened."
The Knights have one or two more matches, depending on other results, before a potential grand final berth. "I don't think I'm a dirty player," Buderus said.
"I went and saw him after the game and said I was sorry. He said, 'No worries. Missing any game is shattering so if I ended up missing a grand final or the semi-finals, that'd be heartbreaking. These are the games you live for. You go through a long season for this time of year and the big games. It wouldn't be shattering - it'd be more than shattering. "It's going to be a hard week, just stewing on it and seeing what happens. I've never been suspended."
Buderus has a spotless judiciary record. The NSW captain and Test hooker is among the most respected figures in the game. A bad word is never said about him. Those factors, coupled with his genuine remorse, could work in his favour when the judiciary decides his fate. Buderus has two possible defences. First, he could argue Robertson was spinning when he made impact and that awkward motion resulted in what appeared to be a spear tackle. Another argument is his tackling style, similar to that used by Queensland Origin great Trevor Gillmeister, one of rugby league's greatest defenders. As Gillmeister did, Buderus goes low to make contact with the attacking player, then pulls him down from behind the kneecaps. The result is the attacking player is brought down to the broad of his back quickly and effectively. While it is a copybook tackle, Gillmeister said the tackle could appear dangerous if the defender didn't place his feet in the correct position.
"There is no way Danny Buderus meant to make a spear tackle," he said. "When you tackle the way he does, where you place your feet is important. Normally you drive through from your feet but in Danny's case, he 'squeezed' his feet and had no option but to stand up when he completed the tackle. I know they'll be looking at how Robertson came down, but I feel for Buderus because I know there was no intent at all."

Danny's season speared by inconsistency; Sunday Telegraph. Sep 17, 2006.
THE only thing in rugby league that is more inconsistent than Tim Smith's passing game or Peter Holmes a Court's dress sense is the judiciary. Like everyone else north of the Hawkesbury River bridge, I'm still scratching my head trying to work out how Danny Buderus was suspended for six matches. It's up there with some of the great mysteries -- like how Kyle Sandilands ended up as a judge on Australian Idol. Nobody condones spear tackles. But can somebody explain how Buderus copped a grade three ban and was rubbed out for six weeks when similar tackles this season have earned only one- or two-week penalties?
Something doesn't add up. How can you have one spear tackle graded at one, another at two and another at three. If a bloke's head is speared into the ground, it is speared into the ground. Full stop. Buderus's tackle on Michael Robertson wasn't good. But as a biomechanics expert testified in Buderus's defence, the tackle turned nasty because of how fast Robertson -- a speedy winger -- was travelling and thhe fact that Buderus drove in. When you compare the tackle to others this season, a six-week ban doesn't seem right. It was the third-worst suspension this season for a "dangerous throw". The Roosters' Lopini Paea copped 10 matches for a tackle against the Storm in round 13 that was deemed a grade five. And Melbourne's Michael Crocker received nine matches for a tackle against Souths which rated a grade four. Why has the NRL been so inconsistent with the gradings of these awful tackles?
If they got the Buderus tackle right, how can you explain Crocker -- again -- only copping two weeks for a tackle on Brisbane's Sam Thaiday when the Broncos forward said he was "just happy he could walk away".  Crocker is a serial offender but copped two weeks.
Buderus is a cleanskin and copped six weeks. The Knights hooker has played the game tough but fair for almost a decade. As the panel heard, he has made thousands of tackles. For a bloke who plays in the trenches and prides himself on being the forward defensive leader at his club, his record on foul play speaks for itself. Yet one tackle that a leading biomechanics expert said was unavoidable results in him being banned from the biggest games of the season. Buderus should have been punished. Spear tackles are the ugliest part of our game. But no player goes out to deliberately maim an opponent . Accidents do happen.
The NRL has to look at the inconsistent gradings and penalties for spear tackles. Whichever way you care to look at it, Buderus' penalty just doesn't add up.

Danny has top night at awards; Herald. Oct 7, 2006. 
HARDWORKING hooker Danny Buderus was named the Newcastle Knights Player of the Year at their gala presentation dinner at Wests Leagues Club last night.
The NSW captain stood out in a stellar season for the Knights, in which they finished fourth on the NRL ladder before bowing out in week two of the finals series to eventual premiers Brisbane. Buderus played 23 club games this season and three matches for the Blues in their 2-1 State of Origin loss to Queensland.
The Taree junior beat a long list of contenders for the top prize, including NSW teammate Steve Simpson who won the coveted Players' Player of the Year award.
Simpson also played 23 matches for the Knights in another sensational season to pick up the award presented by the Excalibur Club. Outgoing mentor Michael Hagan gave his Coach's Award to departing centre Matt Gidley. Gidley will join English Super League club St Helens next season after signing a two-year deal, and Hagan will soon start his three-year contract as head coach at Parramatta. In a big night for the hookers, Luke Quigley won the Premier League Player of the Year.
The tough rake also collected the Excalibur Club Players' Player award. Matthew Thurston got the Coach's Award from outgoing mentor David Fairleigh.
Former Melbourne Storm back-rower Kirk Reynoldson was named Clubman of the Year, and classy 19-year-old Junior Kangaroos playmaker Jarrod Mullen picked up the Jack Newton Rising Star award.

Daddy Buderus: it's just like holding a footy - Herald. Nov 2, 2006. 
ELLA Grace should be in safe hands with dad Danny Buderus. "It's just like holding a footy," the Knights hooker laughed as he cradled his baby for the camera.
Actually, no it's not, because I tend to drop the footy occasionally."
Buderus's fiancee Kris Hewitt gave birth to Ella Grace, who weighed 3.2 kilograms (seven pounds, one ounce) last Thursday. Buderus is proudly playing with his baby daughter rather than with his Kangaroos teammates in the Tri-Nations rugby league series. "It [the birth] was one of the best days of my life and in the end it was the best week of my life, once Kris was OK," he said. "I think it is particularly special being our first child as well, and I spoke to [footballers] Matty Gidley and Craig Smith and that sort of prepared me for the amazing feeling."
Kris said it was Danny's decision whether to stay by her side or play for Australia. "He had my full support either way but it was certainly up to him," she said.
Buderus has had his first off-season break from league since 2002. He has had surgery on his right thumb, and has recovered to the point where he can change nappies as well as return to rugby league. Buderus had his first run yesterday to prepare for pre-season training, which starts next week.

Danny has top night at awards; Herald. Oct 7, 2006. 
HARDWORKING hooker Danny Buderus was named the Newcastle Knights Player of the Year at their gala presentation dinner at Wests Leagues Club last night.
The NSW captain stood out in a stellar season for the Knights, in which they finished fourth on the NRL ladder before bowing out in week two of the finals series to eventual premiers Brisbane. Buderus played 23 club games this season and three matches for the Blues in their 2-1 State of Origin loss to Queensland.
The Taree junior beat a long list of contenders for the top prize, including NSW teammate Steve Simpson who won the coveted Players' Player of the Year award.
Simpson also played 23 matches for the Knights in another sensational season to pick up the award presented by the Excalibur Club. Outgoing mentor Michael Hagan gave his Coach's Award to departing centre Matt Gidley. Gidley will join English Super League club St Helens next season after signing a two-year deal, and Hagan will soon start his three-year contract as head coach at Parramatta. In a big night for the hookers, Luke Quigley won the Premier League Player of the Year. The tough rake also collected the Excalibur Club Players' Player award. Matthew Thurston got the Coach's Award from outgoing mentor David Fairleigh.
Former Melbourne Storm back-rower Kirk Reynoldson was named Clubman of the Year, and classy 19-year-old Junior Kangaroos playmaker Jarrod Mullen picked up the Jack Newton Rising Star award.

Buderus's hand up - I'd love to be captain; The Daily Telegraph. Nov 14, 2006. 
NEWCASTLE hooker Danny Buderus has expressed his desire to take over the captaincy of the Knights next season following Andrew Johns' decision to relinquish the position. But coach Brian Smith says he is yet to even talk to Johns about the issue and doesn't see a pressing need to make a decision. Buderus and the rest of the club's full-time squad officially started off-season training yesterday. The players were put through their paces during a morning field session at Glendale before an afternoon gym session at Balance Fitness Club. Missing from training were fullback Milton Thaiday and backrower Clint Newton, who have both had minor operations. Thaiday had surgery on his back last week while Newton has had a plate removed from a past operation on his leg. Johns (elbow) and prop Luke Davico (shoulder) are expected to go under the knife today but neither operation is considered serious. Buderus, who made himself unavailable for the Tri-Nations series due to the birth of baby Ella a fortnight ago, said he was yet to speak to Smith about the captaincy issue. "I'd love to have it, for sure," Buderus said. "I haven't really spoken to Brian about it yet but now that Joey doesn't want to do it, I'd love the opportunity. But that's up to Brian."
Buderus, who has captained both NSW and Australia, was overlooked by coach Michael Hagan for the job late last season in favour of Steve Simpson when Johns was suspended. Hagan didn't say as much at the time but he was concerned Buderus didn't need the added on-field pressure of dealing with referees. But the star hooker maintains he does not have a problem with referees and doesn't believe they have a problem with him. "I don't have a drama with them and I'm pretty sure they don't either," he said. "Hages just believed at the time last season that I didn't need the added burden but that was then and this is now. There was a lot of pressure on with some decisions in a few of those big games but I've sat back and had a look at myself in relation to that. I'm feeling really refreshed after a break and raring to go."
Smith said he did not believe the captaincy was a big issue at this stage. "I haven't talked to Andrew about it although I'm aware of what he has said publicly and obviously I respect that," he said. "Danny's definitely captaincy material as is Simmo [Steve Simpson] but it's not something I'm really thinking about at this stage."

Danny welcomes next phase of life; Herald. Dec 23, 2006. 
THIS Christmas and next Easter will mean more to Danny Buderus than they normally do. Monday will be his first Christmas Day as a father, to two-month-old daughter Ella Grace, and he has circled Easter Saturday on his 2007 calendar as one of the most significant days of the new year. That is the day April 7 to be specific the champion Newcastle, NSW and Australian hooker will return to rugby league after serving a six-match suspension arising from the Knights' controversial 25-18 victory over Manly in the first week of this year's NRL finals. Newcastle will play Melbourne at 5.30pm at EnergyAustralia Stadium that day so, rather fittingly, he will lock horns with incumbent Test rake Cameron Smith, who benefited from Buderus's decision to stand down from the Tri-Nations series in October and November. Winning back his Australian No.9 jersey, regaining the State of Origin series as NSW captain, and keeping the new-look Knights among the NRL's leading teams are at the top of his wish list for his 11th season in first grade. But Buderus, who turns 29 in February, is taking none of those things for granted. In a wide-ranging interview with The Herald, he said: His suspension had given him his first decent off-season in four years and would prove to be a career turning point; Fatherhood, and his impending marriage to fiance{aac}e Kris Hewitt, had matured him;
New coach Brian Smith had taught the Knights a new defensive system which he hoped would spell the end of blow-out losses such as their 50-6 finals flop against Brisbane; Cowboys cast-off Mitchell Sargent would emerge as the NRL "buy of the year" in 2007.
SUSPENSION
Buderus was suspended for six games for a dangerous throw on Manly winger Michael Robertson in the final minutes of their qualifying final at EAS on September 8. He sat out against the Broncos a week later and will miss Newcastle's trials against Penrith in Darwin (February 24) and Cronulla at Cessnock (March 3), and their first three games of the season proper against the Bulldogs (March 18), Dragons (March 24) and Raiders (April 2). "Obviously you want to play in all the games, but I won't be playing until Easter, so I'm looking at it as positively as I can," Buderus said. "I don't get the two trials in the pre-season, so I'm training as hard as I can, and that's all I can do. My game fitness will come when I start playing again. It makes it a long off-season for me, but I'm going to use it as a turning point in my career. It gave me a rest and an off-season, so I've worked on a lot of things, hopefully got a bit stronger and a bit quicker and changed my game up a bit. Hopefully I can kick on for the rest of my career from that for another four years or so."
FATHERHOOD
Though he knew he was giving Smith, the 2006 Dally M Medallist a leg-up into the Australian team, Buderus had no hesitation in declaring himself unavailable for the Tri-Nations a decision he had made before he was suspended. He was determined to be present for the birth of his daughter, which, apart from some sleep deprivation, has opened his eyes to the joys of fatherhood. "We've had our baby, we're getting married soon, and I've been able to have a rest and a decent off-season, so there's a lot to be excited about going into the new year," he said. "It's all about responsibility and being there for your partner and your baby girl. It's changed me a little bit, and all for the better, and I'm really enjoying it. I think it's a maturity thing. You realise you're getting a little bit older and you've moved into phase two of your life, with a new baby there and a marriage coming up, so it's time to be a grown-up. Hopefully I've been that, but I'll be 29 in February, and I'm getting on a bit."
REPRESENTATIVE GOALS
Buderus, who has played 15 straight State of Origin games including the past nine as NSW captain, has no immediate plans to retire from the representative stage.
Relinquishing Origin supremacy to Queensland and voluntarily taking a break from the Test team has made him hungry for further rep honours in 2007.
"Without a doubt, I want to get those things back. That's up to me because I've got a big fight on my hands," he said. "That's why I really wanted to train hard this off-season, so I can put up a good show. I'm really looking forward to the challenge of hopefully getting an Origin series win and getting that Test jersey back."
CAPTAINCY
Andrew Johns has made it clear he no longer wants the responsibility of captaining the Knights, and Smith is in no rush to appoint an individual or leadership group to replace him. Buderus, who captains NSW and has skippered Australia, was overlooked during this year's finals because of his poor on-field relationship with referees but would be proud to captain the Knights on a regular basis if selected. "It's not an issue for me," he said. "It hasn't even been spoken about, so I'm sure we'll look at that closer to February when Brian decides what he wants to do, whether it's a group of players or just one bloke."
BRIAN SMITH
The former St George and Parramatta mentor has enjoyed a seamless transition since taking over from Michael Hagan in November. Buderus said Smith's experience and expertise as a career coach of almost 25 years could only make the Knights a better club at all levels. "We started from scratch with Brian, so it's been an education period since we started back in November. We've been full-on with footy and full-on working on our defence," he said. "We've changed all our calls and changed everything for Brian to put his systems in place, and hopefully that will all make us a better team. Hages has been awesome for the club and for the players. He's a great personality manager and a great coach, but Brian brings a different system to the club. It worked with a lot of success at St George and Parramatta, and his record speaks for itself."
DEFENCE
Buderus said the days of the Knights clocking off and allowing 20-point deficits to blow out to 50-point floggings had to become a thing of the past.
"Brian has pretty much interviewed every player already, and I suppose my main concern, and everyone's I'd like to think, is to stop these 50-point losses in games," he said. "You can maybe get away with one a year or something like that, but lately we've consistently had a couple of those. We want to be a real stingy sort of team, grind out our wins and change our style a little bit. "Defence is the big thing. We really want to be a good defensive unit. You say it every year, and you realise with footy now that teams can do that to you blow you out really quickly under the right circumstances of possession and momentum. But it has been an issue for us, and it's something we really want to put an end to. We've changed some things and really worked at our defence since training started. Brian's brought in a totally different way to defend, and that's going to take a lot of getting used to, but the boys are looking forward to putting into practice what we've worked on at training."
NEW FACES
Sacked by the Cowboys for a positive cocaine test, Mitchell Sargent has been given a second chance, and Buderus expects big things from the snowy-haired Country Origin prop.
"I think Mitchell Sargent is going to be the buy of the year for the whole NRL. He's come down here and is training great, and he's going to be awesome for us," Buderus said. The departure of centre Matt Gidley (St Helens) and wingers Anthony Quinn (Melbourne) and Brian Carney (Gold Coast) has left holes in the back line. But that has opened up spots for returning veteran Adam MacDougall, former juniors Paul Franze and Todd Polglase and players already in the system such as Trent Salkeld, Brad Tighe and excitement machine Aku Uate. "We've lost a few blokes from our back line, but that opens the door for some young blokes coming through," he said. "You can't forget a bloke like Trent Salkeld, and young Aku Uate is going to be a real crowd favourite down the track, and he'll definitely get his chance. You've got Doogs, who can play in the centres or on the wing, and Toddy Polglase is training great and really impressing the coaching staff. There's definitely some good young players coming through, and Brian is in a good position starting from scratch with a young team. He's going to set the standard for these young players, and they're enjoying a bloke of his experience coaching them. That can only be a massive benefit for us."

Buderus re-invents his game; The Daily Telegraph. Dec 30, 2006.
A NEW and improved version of Danny Buderus is set to unleash his wizardry on the NRL.  The former Australian hooker said yesterday he had spent the off- season -- coupled with a six-week suspension -- adding variety to his play and re-inventing his game. "It's been the longest break I have had for years," said Buderus. "Before then I could just feel my body taking a big downward spiral. It was just going downhill. It really needed a recharge. I think the biggest positive to come out of the break was it gave me time to think about how I play the game. "You have to work on your game a lot because you get worked out pretty quickly by coaches and opposition players with all the video equipment and technology."
Buderus said he had added a few new tricks to his already lethal armoury. "You have to re-invent yourself and that's what the break has allowed me to do," he said. "I looked at a few things and came up with ideas to improve my game. You will see different things next year."

Perfect day for Knight, lady; Herald. Jan 9, 2007. 
DANNY Buderus has played in grand finals and State of Origin battles but the Knights hooker said nothing compared to the butterflies he experienced at his wedding on Saturday. Buderus and fiancee Kris Hewitt were married at an exclusive restaurant on the Hawkesbury River. The ceremony, which featured the couple's three-month-old daughter, Ella, was attended by 100 guests. "I was very, very nervous," Buderus said yesterday before heading off on his honeymoon.
"Kris came in by boat and looked absolutely amazing. The feeling I got when she walked in . . . I'll never forget it. Ella was carried down the aisle by Kris's sister Sally. She was all dressed up and looked unreal. It was a perfect day."
Former Knights teammate and housemate Mark Hughes was the best man. Andrew Johns and Buderus's brother Broc were the other groomsmen. Kris was attended by her sister Sally Foster and friends Leah Stropin and Lauren Thompson, who travelled from Adelaide. Guests, who included a handful of Knights, were taken to the island restaurant by boat. "The guests were mostly family," Buderus said. "We would have loved to have been able to invite heaps of people but that is the way it goes. We had a long lunch at the restaurant about 18 months ago and really loved it. As you would expect, Kris did most of the organising and did a magnificent job. I was there so she could bounce ideas off me but she deserves all the credit."
Buderus is not due to play for the Knights until round four against Melbourne on April 7, because of a suspension, which carried over from last season. "Having the suspension up my sleeve probably helped my cause in getting a couple of weeks off training," he joked.