Danny Buderus insists he has no regrets over his decision to return home to Australia after ending his Leeds Rhinos career with a Super League Grand Final win over St Helens.
The former Australia skipper was playing his last match in Leeds colours at Old Trafford having revealed after the semi-final win over Warrington that he would be joining his old NRL club Newcastle Knights for 2012.
And Buderus ensured he waved goodbye to the Super League in style helping Leeds come from behind in the second half to win an enthralling encounter, which they had led at the break, 32-16.
The 33-year-old was the subject of an approach by the Knights, with who he made over 200 NRL appearances in a 10-year spell before joining Leeds in 2009, earlier in the summer.
And he was quick to confirm his future allegiance back to Newcastle despite tasting Grand Final success for the first time with Leeds having missed their previous triumph in 2009 with a broken leg.
“I can’t ask for anymore really – this game just typifies our whole season,” said Buderus – who won the NRL Grand Final with Newcastle back in 2001.
“The conditions were tough out there and it was very physical and in the first 10 minutes of the second half we were defending back-to-back-to-back.
“There was a lot of pressure on us – it was relentless and St Helens wouldn’t let us out. But we knew if we got good field position and a good feel of the ball we would score.
“And it says a lot that we went up the other end and scored. There are a lot of class blokes in the team and a lot of tough ones like Rob Burrow and Jamie Peacock.
“But I have no regrets about going back home now. It has been an honour to play for Leeds and the reason why I came here was to win trophies.
“This is a dream come true but going home is a dream come true and I am going back to Newcastle to work hard and do the best for the Knights.”
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