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Whatever claptrap the NRL might spout about the Danny Buderus situation being about salary cap rules, the reality is the most insular code of all just exposed the enormous chip it continues to carry on its shoulder.
Still pumped up with the self-righteous hot-air from the return of lost sheep Israel Folau, the jumpy NRL administration and its six month ‘interim’ CEO decided to flex its localised muscle and teach the tweed-coat wearers a lesson by humiliating one of their own greatest stars.
The obviously forced Buderus statement is baffling. If you didn’t know the offence, and were guessing what you thought it might have been based on the gravity of the apology, you’d swear Buderus had punched a fan or been busted mainlining stanozolol.
“I wish to apologise to the NRL, the Knights, their stakeholder’s (sic) and fans, for any offence I caused.
“I love our game and I love our club, but I accept that it was an error of judgement for which I take full responsibility.
“Today I have contacted the NRL to personally apologise and I accept whatever steps they believe are needed to repair any damage I have caused.”
Offence? Error of judgement? Damage? Are they for real? How touchy are these dinosaurs in the NRL that they are offended by one of their boys in a rugby training shirt?
The fact here (aside from the certainty that Buderus’s apology was forced upon him by an NRL-paid spin-doctor with rubbish punctuation) is that the paranoid NRL has made the worst of all possible calls.
Had it been smart enough, or visionary enough, it could have used Buderus as a shining example of the desirability of NRL-bred skills in other codes.
“Look at our boys! Once again we’re in demand by other codes, because rugby league breeds the best! We have the qualities that all the others want!”
Instead, it jumped at its own shadow and flew into a whimpering fit of imaginary damage control – imaginary because there was no damage in the first place.
In the modern world of professional football, coaches cross codes, clubs and countries every day of the week. The fans don’t care, but the old farts running rugby league have been in McCarthy mode ever since Super League. Someone should tell them the war’s over… and they won.
Buderus is one of the most respected footballers Australia has produced in any code. He has played over 300 first-grade games in the NRL and Super League. He holds the record for most games as captain of NSW in State of Origin.
As testament to his durability, also holds the record for the most consecutive Origin games for NSW (21). He has 24 Kangaroo caps, including two tours, and captained the international Exiles to victory over England in the international Origin match in 2011, ten years after winning a premiership with Newcastle in 2001.
Not only is Buderus a great captain and fantastic all-round player, but he has consistently been the best ambassador possible for the NRL and the game of rugby league. There has never been a whiff of a scandal around him, despite being in the game during several less-than-savoury episodes with teammates at club and rep level.
He deserves better and his game had a golden opportunity to support him and start him off in a coaching career which undoubtedly would have resulted in him becoming an NRL coach at some level.
But faced with the chance to champion one of their own – and hype the NRL legend in the process – they inexplicably chose to do the exact opposite and humiliate one of their best and most humble servants.
It can only be paranoia.
Rules are made to be broken, and an administration with a skerrick of imagination would have seen the expansionist marketing opportunity that was ripe within the temporary Buderus appointment.
Actually, had they just done nothing at all, the story would have gone nowhere inside 24 hours. By reacting, they’ve simply given it oxygen.
Unfortunately for Buderus, Bennett, the Brumbies, and the fans of both codes, the sizeable chip on the collective NRL shoulder once again showed why the game continues to struggle outside east Australia, Auckland, Port Moresby and Wigan.