From Taree United to the Leeds Rhinos in England, Danny Buderus was always a man that led from the front. It’s little wonder why he has become so emotional as he prepares to leave the many teammates he guided through thick and thin.
What makes Buderus such an inspiration is his ability end a career of 222 first grade games for the Newcastle Knights at just the right time, albeit sped up a little to the season ending biceps injury he suffered in last week’s victory over the Nth Qld Cowboys.
It was a bittersweet end for one of the NRL’s most decorated players.
As he shed his tears, Buderus left everything out in the open. It is this sincere, easy going nature off the field that really enhanced his stature as one of the most popular and respected players in history of the game in Australia.
The tough-tackling and strong running Buderus has a list of on-field achievements as long as his arm.
In fact, league’s greatest halfback, Andrew Johns, has said that he has seen no braver footballer.
And many would agree.
Ironically, Buderus originally started out as a halfback/five-eighth and eventually became a hooker.
He was signed by the Knights in 1995 and later played with the Australian schoolboys team. Despite attending Newcastle’s Premiership victory parade in 1997, Buderus officially made his debut for the Novocastrians one year later against the New Zealand Warriors.
From then on, Buderus would go on to experience the most unlikely of Premiership glories when the Knights defeated the highly fancied and record breaking Parramatta Eels side in the 2001 Grand Final.
In the same year, ‘Bedsy’ received his first test jersey, becoming one of the few players to play for Australia before playing Origin football.
His finest individual moment came in 2004 when he edged out close rival Brett Finch for the Dally M player of the year award, despite the Knights not making the finals.
With all of these achievements, it’s little wonder why Buderus is the man many consider to have revolutionised a hooking position previously dominated by the likes of Steve Walters and company.
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