Leeds Rhinos hooker Danny Buderus is urging the RFL to act to prevent an exodus of talent to Australia.
Former Kangaroos captain wants British talent to remain at home
Leeds Rhinos hooker Danny Buderus is urging the Rugby Football League to act to prevent an exodus of Super League talent heading to Australia.
The 33-year-old former Kangaroos captain will make his last appearance for Leeds in Saturday's Engage Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford, where James Graham will do likewise for opponents St Helens.
While Buderus is entering the twilight of his career, ready to play one final season with his old club Newcastle Knights, Graham is arguably at his peak as he prepares to try his hand in the NRL with Canterbury Bulldogs.
Graham, who turns 26 on Monday, will be joining his England team-mates Sam Burgess and Gareth Ellis Down Under and Buderus believes that is a worrying trend for Super League.
Focus
"It will be interesting to see how James goes," said Buderus. "Sam has made a huge impact on and off the field, Gaz Ellis has been player of the year at his club for three years in a row and you'd like to think James Graham will go out there and play really well as well.
"There's Luke Burgess out there as well and I can understand players wanting to go.
"But, from an English point of view, you don't want your best players out there. The whole focus should be put on Super League and making this competition the best it can be. You need to keep those sort of players here."
Buderus was a one-club man until he joined Leeds from the Knights three years ago and has no regrets over what he calls a "life-changing experience".
"You're out of that bubble and you've got to learn to stand on your own two feet, which I always have," he said. "I've been away from home since I was 16.
"I've brought my two kids up here and I've loved my time here."
Buderus admits he took some time to settle into his new club, especially sharing the hooking role after regularly playing the full 80 minutes of matches for Newcastle and New South Wales.
But he believes the experience has had the effect of lengthening his career and he goes into Saturday's Grand Final in top form following his man-of-the-match display in last Friday's 26-24 win at Warrington.
"It was hard to get my head round adjusting to that role," he said. "But I've enjoyed it and not playing 80 minutes which I used to do back home has probably put another couple of years on my career."
Confident
Buderus missed the last of the Rhinos' three consecutive Old Trafford triumphs in 2009 because of a broken leg and was in the side that lost to eventual champions Wigan in the semi-finals 12 months ago.
He also tasted defeat in back-to-back Challenge Cup finals at Wembley but is confident he can end his three-year spell with a major trophy.
"I got really worked up for the two Wembley experiences and, looking back, it probably wasn't the right thing," he said. "It didn't go to plan.
"Now everyone is really relaxed and enjoying the ride. We're all in a confident mood and that's what makes it fun. We've got some momentum going."
