Uk Giants Chasing Danny

Newcastle Herald

Thursday January 31, 2008

BRETT KEEBLE RUGBY LEAGUE

ENGLISH Super League

powerhouses Leeds and Wigan

are believed to be in a two-horse

race for the prized signature of

champion Newcastle and NSW

captain Danny Buderus.

The Herald understands both

clubs have kicked off preliminary

negotiations to try to secure

Buderus?s services from next year.

But his manager, Darryl Mather,

insisted last night that there had

been no developments on the

English front.

Mather said Buderus was

focused on his commitments with

Newcastle and helping the Knights

re-establish themselves, and could

still fulfi l his current contractual

obligations and remain at the

Knights until the end of next year.

Mather said Buderus, who

turns 30 next Wednesday, was

contracted until the end of 2009.

The 24-Test international and

2004 Dally M Medallist has never

concealed his interest in fi nishing

his career with a stint in England,

and the Knights have made it clear

if he could secure the right deal.

Buderus is Newcastle's highestpaid

player, understood to be

earning about $400,000 a year, but

could command at least $500,000 a

season at a Super League club.

He said last night that he had

nothing further to add to his

comments in a Herald article

earlier this month, when he said:

"My number-one goal is to do

everything I can for the Knights,

and that other sort of stuff, I'm not

really thinking about that at the

moment."

Mather said he was unaware

of any interest from specifi c

English clubs.

"He may end up going to

England in 2009. He may not,"

Mather said. "All we?re worried

about at the moment is supporting

Danny?s endeavours to play the

best footy he can at Newcastle.

I?m not thinking about the rest

of it at this juncture.

"Danny's got two years

remaining on his contract and, at

this juncture, that's the only thing

he's got that's solid.

"There is a thought that logically

Danny may follow suit like a

Trent Barrett or Matt Gidley and

go and finish in England, but I

think everyone's jumping the gun

to assert that there has been

developments."

It is understood the Knights

would prefer Buderus to settle his

future sooner rather than later, so

they can factor his intentions into

their salary-cap calculations and

recruitment and retention plans

for 2009.

Newcastle coach Brian Smith

would not comment on any English

speculation but said he could not

be happier with Buderus's efforts

on and off the field during preseason

training and was looking

forward to the dynamic dummyhalf

leading the Knights' crusade.

Continued Page 56

"All we're

worried about at

the moment is

supporting Danny's

endeavours to play

the best footy he

can at Newcastle."

- DANNY BUDERUS'S

MANAGER, DARRYL MATHER

KNIGHTS SWEAT ON BUDERUS'S BIGGEST CALL - PAGE 56

English giants chasing Danny

From Page 64

Leeds, coached by former New Zealand Test mentor Brian McClennan, are the reigning Super League champions and will play NRL premiers Melbourne in the World Club Challenge at Elland Road on February 29.

Wigan, under the guidance of former Great Britain coach Brian Noble, are trying to return to their glory days of the 1980s and early 90s.

"We'll look at anything and everything but let's get Danny up and running for the Knights first," Mather said. "He's a veteran, and we'll be guided by him."

Buderus's representative intentions could also influence any decision. Under pressure from Tigers hooker Robbie Farah, he is keen to retain the NSW No.9 jersey he has worn in 18 straight Origin games, and he has never ruled out the challenge of unseating Cameron Smith for Australia's Centenary World Cup campaign.

"One of the reasons we wouldn't be closing anything that quickly, if Danny started the year fantastically and happy and the team starts to climb the table and reach some of its aspirations and he feels regenerated, he could stay the two years of his contract," Mather said.

"It would be presumptuous to have something locked up even before he's kicked a ball. He doesn't need to because he's got two very, very solid years ahead, and if it's going well and he's playing well as part of that, he'd probably see that out first.

"It's been a bit of an annus horribilis up there . . . But there's new hope with quality purchases like Ben Cross and Wes Naiqama and some really fabulous young players there."

Mather also manages Knights fullback Kurt Gidley and winger James McManus and hopes to kick off negotiations regarding Gidley next week.

"The plan is to get McManus over the line first, then we'll start talking about young Kurt," he said.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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