Bennett warns Country off Bedsy
By Joe Barton, 14 Apr 2012
- Tagged:
- Danny Buderus, Newcastle Knights, NRL, Rugby League, Wayne Bennett
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Newcastle coach Wayne Bennett again called on Country rugby league selectors to not pick veteran hooker Danny Buderus for next week’s City Country Origin match – or risk losing him for good.
Buderus is strongly tipped to be named at No.9 for Country when the squads are announced on Sunday, but Bennett said the former NSW skipper does not want to play.
Bennett, the game’s most respected and successful coach, argued on Friday that, at age 34, Buderus would benefit more from having a week’s rest rather than churning through his normal workload of 40 tackles against City.
“Let’s look at a little bit of history here, I mean you (NSW) have got a lot of players in the past that don’t want to play for their state when they get to 30 year of age,” Bennett said after Newcastle’s 12-4 loss to St George Illawarra.
“And you’ve got one at 34 who’s doing in excess of 40 tackles a week. The week off’s going to do him a hell of a lot more good.
“…A 34-year-old surely to God doesn’t have to go and play a City-Country to prove what to who.
“And what’s the next step, does Danny say ‘I don’t want to play in that and then I’ll withdraw from representative football’, is that where you want to drive him to?
“What’s he got to prove to anybody? We all know what he can do.
“There’s a bit of respect needed … of what he’s done and who he is.
“And if he’s not good enough for Origin on his club form that’s great, that’s fine, he’s not begging anyone to be picked.”
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The Crowd Says (5) | Page 1 of Comments
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- Explore:
- Danny Buderus, Newcastle Knights, NRL, Rugby League, Wayne Bennett
April 14th 2012 @ 7:12am
steve b said | April 14th 2012 @ 7:12am | Report comment
If he dosent want to play i dont see why he should have to , their are plenty that want the job give it to someone that wants it !
April 14th 2012 @ 8:34am
Charles said | April 14th 2012 @ 8:34am | Report comment
Wayne Bennett is spot on with this
Danny Buderus is ready and should play Origin
He is the best hooker for NSW
April 14th 2012 @ 11:02am
Carlos said | April 14th 2012 @ 11:02am | Report comment
Ive changed my tune after last nights game DB was best in a losing side showed plenty of heart and no age.
Bennett is a classic now he is telling the NSW selectors what to do and when to do it….
April 14th 2012 @ 11:02am
Carlos said | April 14th 2012 @ 11:02am | Report comment
Ive changed my tune after last nights game DB was best in a losing side showed plenty of heart and no age.
Bennett is a classic now he is telling the NSW selectors what to do and when to do it….
April 15th 2012 @ 8:36pm
Meesta Cool said | April 15th 2012 @ 8:36pm | Report comment
I still fail to see why this game is at all necessary, it means nothing and usually has no effect on the selection of the NSW team.. I hate seeing our players risk injury for such a non event!.