Buderus is intent on making victorious farewell

How annoying. Not only is one of the world’s greatest players universally admired for his footballing prowess he is also one of life’s good guys, too.

Some people seem to have it all. It is for such reasons that no one – St Helens fans aside, of course – would begrudge the esteemed Leeds Rhinos hooker bowing out of the English game as a Super League Grand Final victor to send him off with the one thing he is missing: a piece of silverware.

If ever there was a more fitting winner of one of those little gleaming rings, it is the Australian who has enriched the sport here during the last three years but is heading home to Newcastle Knights for a swansong season after Saturday night.

Saints hope for the same fairytale finish for their joint-captain James Graham, the flame-haired England prop who has become the embodiment of their side in recent years and will follow Buderus to the NRL with Canterbury Bulldogs next season.

However, Graham has one to his name already, having played in the 2006 side that defeated Hull FC before suffering four successive Grand Final losses, including three against Leeds.

The luckless Buderus, since joining from Newcastle, has lost in two Challenge Cup finals and he also missed the 2008 Grand Final due to injury.

“I have come close a couple of times,” he said. “I didn’t get to Old Trafford due to a broken leg and missed out on two trophies at Wembley but rugby league is what it is.

“You want to be proud of what you put out there. I’m proud to be a Rhino and nothing’s going to change after 80 minutes on Saturday. If we get the win, we get the win.”

A typically selfless response and one you fully believe; former Kangaroos captain Buderus has gained as much enjoyment out of his time at Headingley Carnegie as he has actually given to the fans with his classy dummy-half performances and he does not need medals to remember it by.

However, undoubtedly, if Leeds are to overcome the Merseysiders, and complete a piece of history by winning a Grand Final from their fifth-placed finish, he will be central to their cause.

The tireless performance of the 33-year-old in last Friday’s semi-final win at minor champions Warrington Wolves was deemed the best since his move to England as he made continually inroads around the ruck.

“It’s a funny one as I haven’t played a full 80 minutes over here at all until that Warrington game,” he said.

“I enjoyed that part of it and the challenge while I knew it could have been my last game as well.

“You have to play well against Warrington and it was an emotional night.

“On so many different levels it was a great win.

“Different things were being portrayed about us early on in the season and back then that was probably fair comment.

“But we’ve come together now as a team that’s confident, we’ve got momentum and that makes us dangerous.

“When you’re playing games like that it’s what the sport’s all about and it was a pleasure to play in it, then walk off and see the reaction of your fans and family.

“But now we’ve got Saints to come and, while the history says Leeds beat St Helens in Grand Finals, I don’t think the young group they’ve got coming through there care too much for history.

“We know it’s going to be another tough game and, hopefully, an entertaining one.”

The Rhinos’ renaissance since plummeting as low as eighth less than three months ago has been traced back to their August Cup final defeat to Wigan Warriors since when they have strung together five consecutive wins to stun the rest of Super League.

Buderus admitted: “We’re very relaxed and, after Wembley, it’s been one of those months where we thought ‘what will be, will be’.

“We just wanted to go back and work as hard as we could.

“We’ve done that and ended up at a Grand Final. I don’t know how many clubs could achieve it - there was all the talk of Wigan struggling to do the double but we’ve played the same amount of games – and it’s why I’m just so proud to say I’m a Rhino and to be part of this group.

“To be at two Wembley finals and then all of a sudden pick yourselves up again after such a big emotional roller-coaster says plenty. We’ve played a lot of football over the last two years with not much reward. We made the (Super League) semi last year and bowed out, but now find ourselves in the final.

“It’s been a really big effort and we’re 80 minutes from it being a great effort.”

Buderus, who won the NRL Grand Final with Newcastle in 2001, forming an almost telepathic understanding with Andrew Johns, reckons appearing at Old Trafford will top his Wembley experience.

“The Challenge Cup scenario is unique and it’s a one-off game, a knockout competition,” he said.

“But, for myself, nothing can compare to winning the Grand Final when you think of the meaning of a day-to-day, week-to-week entire season.

“The Challenge Cup is very special but for this you go though so much more and from where we’ve been it’s been a hell of a journey.

“It’s going to be a special night. It’s been a dream and now I’m looking forward to experiencing it as a player.”

The ex-New South Wales captain concedes asking Leeds to release him from the final year of his contract to facilitate a last season at his former club was tough.

The Knights had tried taking him back last year when they hit trouble but now – especially with legendary coach Wayne Bennett taking over – he could not decline them twice and a compensation deal has been completed.

“My time at Leeds after two years wasn’t long enough and I didn’t think I’d get the chance to go back there (Newcastle) and play,” he said.

“But things have changed dramatically over the last 12 months with the privatisation, a new coach and things like that and there was an approach. I wanted to go about in the right way through the front door with Gary (Hetherington) and it’s been a patient thing.

“We wanted to come up with the right move and the dream of going to finish off my home patch there at Newcastle is something too good to refuse under Wayne Bennett and with a new horizon for the Knights.

“There was only ever two clubs for me playing-wise and there’s a lot of strong ties and emotions.

“If you’re a Leeds lad it would be the exact same and there’s so many similarities about Newcastle and Leeds it’s not funny.

“I’m going to miss it next year and no doubt there will be times when I’m sitting over in Newcastle and just go ‘That was great – it’d be good to be in Leeds at the minute.’ I’ve made some phenomenal life-long friends and all my family is set in their routine here.

“They’ve loved it and I’ve managed to spend a lot more time with them than I did when in the NRL where rugby league takes up so much time. The culture at this club is second to none.”

Buderus overcame some early problems with injuries and then sharing the hooking role with Matt Diskin to prove himself as a Leeds great and admits the experience has enlightened him.

“You get out of your comfort zone,” he said. “In the NRL, especially at Newcastle, you’re in that one-team town but I came here and had to fend for myself a bit.

“Some scenarios have been a bit uncomfortable at times but you just learn about yourself. It would put me in good stead if I was ever to be a coach. It’s been a really enjoyable three years.”

His battle with St Helens and England hooker James Roby will be fascinating tomorrow evening.

“Robes’s stats are phenomenal and it’s not hard to work out he’s a chief threat,” he said.

“Obviously him and James Graham work very well together and now also Jonny Lomax and Paul Wellens are all in form.

“It’s going to be a great game and I’m sure all the fans will appreciate what’s going on.”

Another faultless performance from the Australian maestro in his 83rd and final Leeds appearance and he will be going up for that richly-deserved winners’ ring.