Veteran NRL player finds a part-time job utilising his skills on the recommendation of his coach, and is very excited about entering a new chapter of his life while his playing days wind down.
Despite the blessing of his bosses, and with almost unheard of co-operation between current and future employers, there’s one small detail: his new employer is a rival code.
And that’s how the fight started…
I’ve often thought that my esteemed colleague David Lord’s use of the word ‘reactionary’ to describe the NRL management was a bit harsh at times, but I could be starting to come around the Lordy’s way of thinking.
On Thursday, the Brumbies sent out an email advising of a rather exciting announcement with regard to their coaching staff, and that it involved an NRL great.
Though I’d convinced myself that former Souths winger, Ziggy Niscot, was set for a code switch, current Newcastle Knights and former NSW hooker, Danny Buderus, was unveiled as a consultant “Collision Coach” for the ACT-based Super Rugby side.
Brumbies coach, Jake White, was there in the presser hailing his new signing:
“For the Brumbies, we are gaining some expert advice on the initial contact and first-up tackle which is an important part of the modern game. In 2012, our defensive record was one of the best in Super Rugby, but much of that was thanks to our commitment to each other and ability to scramble.
“I think with Danny’s help, we can make further improvements to our defence. I’ve spoken to Danny several times about the season ahead and he’s excited to be a part of the organisation. His record in rugby league speaks for itself and from what I can gather, he’s a fantastic guy off the field too.
“I’d like to thank the Newcastle Knights, in particular their head coach Wayne Bennett for being so accommodating with Danny’s services.”
Unsurprisingly, Buderus – looking resplendent in the Brumbies training kit – was pleased to start a post-playing life in area he knows plenty about:
“For me to be given a chance to start my coaching career with the Brumbies was an opportunity too good to pass up. Coaching is something I’ve always thought would be an interesting way to keep a connection with sport once I’d finished playing and this opportunity certainly allows me to start the ball rolling.
“While all of my professional experience has been with rugby league, I’ve got an interest in all sports and have followed the progress of the Wallabies over the years.
“The Brumbies have a young group of players with plenty of potential. Considering my own experience I’m looking forward to contributing to their program and making an impact on the way the boys tackle and defend.”
The plan is – or was, it seems – for Buderus to spend one day a week in Canberra with the Brumbies during their pre-season up until Christmas, and then in Buderus’ words, ‘we’ll see what happens after that’. Obviously, it is going to be difficult to still play and coach another team in another code in another city.
Except that by late Thursday afternoon, the NRL had decided to play fun police.
“Neither Danny Buderus nor the Knights have sought permission from the NRL to enter into a third party agreement as his playing contract requires and as the club is required under the Salary Cap Rules,” NRL interim chief executive Shane Mattiske said late on Thursday afternoon.
“It is hard to envisage any circumstance where an agreement could be approved that allowed a current NRL player to promote another code competing in the same market as an NRL team.
“The announcement today which saw Danny at a press conference in another code’s training gear underlines potential issues.
“We will be seeking an immediate response from the Knights and as much as we respect Danny’s intentions we do not see any way in which the proposal can be pursued.”
Really?
So what’s really the issue here, is it the fact he’s found another job in a different code, or is it that he’s found another job in a different code while he’s still playing?
How is it any different to say, the Wallabies using current Sydney Swans Academy coach, Paul Roos, for a couple of coaching sessions under the high ball?
In fact, how is it really different to Buderus taking up a part-time off-season job as a landscaper, or as a brickie, or as an office lackey with a club sponsor?
And how the bloody hell could there possibly be salary cap issues for the Knights, as has been reported? Surely, this deal is less suspect than if Buderus suddenly became a Knights “development officer”? Will the NRL cover Buderus’ lost earnings now?
If the issue is the promotion of Brumbies sponsors, then surely it can be worked so that Buderus does the job in his own training gear. Or the Knights’ gear, given the two clubs have obviously spoken about the arrangement.
If the NRL really thought about it, they’d see that this appointment is actually a nod to the defensive techniques and methods used within rugby league. They would see that the game they derived from wants to learn from the game they’ve become.
Let the deal go ahead, it just looks petty to play ‘bovver boys’ on a deal that benefits all involved.
stillmatic1
Guest
well, usually one gets paid for their services, dont they!? buderus wasnt going to do the job due to the goodness of his heart!! and p.tah, sharing training sessions is hardly the same as taking up a coaching role, one would think.
ceboss
Guest
hahahahaha You are funny if you think pleasure is tthe same as business.
ceboss
Guest
But Europe and Japan comps are not competing in the same market, and League is a completely different code. Why the hell would the NRL help the ARU in anyway after the ARU recruited the NRL star players when the NRL were vunerable? The ARU are even more strict than the NRl so its hypocritical of ruggers to think its stiff for the NRL to refuse any of there own to help a rival code.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Buderus is hardly a low profile league player. Well bring over Kurlley Beale for 5-6 weeks,rolll him out on ch9 in a Parramatta jersey,and state he is being used as an ëvasive"coach. And you believe the ARU would sanction such a deal.If that is so ,then I believe Matt Dunning should have been a winger. Replace paranoia with commercial responsibility, a reality which seems to escape some here.
Jerry
Guest
In the case of Dan Carter, I suspect the NZRU would accept it - they've shown with his sabbatical and SBW's boxing that they're willing to let their star players make revenue outside of rugby (even if it conflicts with their immediate interest) for the sake of keeping them in NZ longer term.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
OK we(say Canterbury) secure and pay Dan Carter for 5 sessions of kicking and backline play and flaunt him in front of the cameras in the Dog's jumper.The NZRU would just lurve it.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
$1bn brings a certain amount of logic into the code. Perhaps some codes assumed to be logical, would run over broken galss to secure such a deal in this country. Tall poppy syndrome is alive and well.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
There are after play opportunities available to players when they retire ,or at least assistance given.The RLPA insist this sort of thing be done. Educational and work experience is a requiremet for u20 players also. What Bedsy or anyone else does in their retirement is up to them.H ecan introduce farnarkling into the national sphere and the ARLC would have no control.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Rubbish.The NRL acted as an organisation sporting or commercial should. Under threat with the money now at their disposal, and more to come.Yeah they are trembling at the kneecaps. Promotion of your competiton and being paid to d so, in a highly competitve sporting market,is marketing lunacy.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Feel under threat!!! The code may have prior to the $1bn deal. A strategic plan publicly announced is hardly indicative of a code under threat. 7 areas bidding to get in to the code,does not signify a threat.Membership numbers coming in already at higher levels than this year ditto.More money to come in from internet /mobile and Sky news only adds to their financial clout. I know which code should feel under threat and it's not rugby league.Read FitzSimons column in today's SMH ,for further proof. The code is protecting its "commercial integrity".Buderus is a current high profile player for the Knights,and indeed a well respected one. He stuffed up and admitted so.You commit to an organisation any organisation 100% end of story.And its called reactionary,if the head body ensures this committment is fulfilled.Hate to be employing people(not so committed) with such a flexible approach. The NRL showed some mettle by spelling out ,you can only be employed by one organisation,unless it is part time a 3rd part deal approved by the NRL and not in competition with other codes and or private organisations.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Ever heard of some responsibility to your current employer,and assisting the competition whilst employed shows lack of responsibility. The NRL acted as any head body would. If you wish to bang on about cultural tendencies,obssessive protection of properties look no further than GPS and Assoc schools,where rugby league cannot get a look in.In main due to the old boy/ union duopoly. And some ru people get precious about the Folau and Buderus issues pot & kettle lurking.Their code in the same position would do the same. Folau was paraded around and used for PR work to gain market share ,part of which was securing attendance of rl fans.Buderus was paraded in a like manner for a caoching position in a city where both rugby codes compete. Reactionary!!! No Brett .Just commercial commonsense and not adopting the public service mentality(Govt's change). Many former rl players help S15 and national ru teams,that is a different story,working for one master.
John
Guest
What nonsense. Rules are rules, the NRL arent allowing it just as the ARU wouldnt. If deals like this were allowed there would be all sorts of ways to get around the salary cap and this is the main reason why they are not.
Johnson
Guest
????????? no sense
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
sledgeandhammer this is the strange thing, they obviously do feel very much under threat despite a 1 billion TV deal. And if they feel under threat surely it should be from the AFL and not rugby, who they dominate at the moment?
Bakkies
Guest
No surprise that White said that given that he basically spent 4 years as a coaching consultant after the 2007 RWC. Sure he had some gigs in SA but this is his first real job since that RWC. He can be a bit awkward when it comes to the media.
Bakkies
Guest
Yep and Canberra is a small place so word gets around quick
Bakkies
Guest
Tony Rea and Phil Blake never played elite Rugby. Shame goes with Shaun Edwards who coached Wasps (he played English schools Rugby I believe). How many NRL and Super League clubs have hired Rugby coaches? If Buderus played Rugby he would be a scrumhalf or a flyhalf.
Bakkies
Guest
Well the Wallabies are still playing up until December and have a mandatory rest period before Super Rugby starts in February. Some players have been allowed to go to Europe or Japan while on contract in Australia (see Rocky Elsom at Leinster). There would be registration and insurance issues if they went and played league.
sledgeandhammer
Guest
Whatever your interpretation of this particular situation, one thing is clear, the NRL feels very much under threat at the moment. I don't think they necessarily should, but clearly they do.
ceboss
Guest
Call expansion if you want but signing some of the most popular NRL players and throwing money at them without experience in the game that even some stars in the AFL dont get, and lying about participation rates to gain access to the birth place of Rugby league isnt waging a direct war agaist the NRL i dont know what is. Why did they need to take players from the NRL if they could of pplaced more experienced AFL stars in there? Its obvious they wanted the attention of NRL fans of the west suburbs and QLD. Dont bother crapping on about nswafl making a mistake instead of lying about the figures of Birchgrove cause there is a big difference between 1644 players and 238 players. The NRL are not dumb and they have experience in this field with the ARU trying a similar tactic which ended with the NRL on top, while the AFL have had no such war before. Anyway its ok, we are still fellow aussies ill still cheer for Australia in the AFL worldcup bwhahahahaha.