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Leeds Rhinos: Dan's focused on the Rhinos
Danny Buderus has confirmed he is keen to return to Aussie club Newcastle Knights – but only after he has completed his business with Leeds Rhinos.
The former Australia captain, pictured above, spent 12 seasons with Knights before joining Rhinos on a two-year deal, beginning in 2009.
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Knights are in crisis after two players were charged with supplying drugs and the club's management want Buderus back in a non-playing role to mentor their squad.
But the man himself is playing down the prospect of leaving Leeds before the end of his current deal.
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Australia's Daily Telegraph reported at the weekend that it is "well known" among Knights' players that Buderus is not happy in England, but he insisted he hasn't asked for a release and is enjoying his time at Headingley Carnegie.
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"All I know is I am contracted to the Rhinos until the end of the year," he said.
"Obviously my old club's in a bit of trouble. I would do anything for them and I have always said I'd go back there one day.
"But I have made my intentions clear that I want to finish on a good note here at the Rhinos.
"Maybe next year, we will see what happens after that."
Buderus, 32 stressed he is still enjoying playing and isn't yet ready to hang up his boots.
"I am entrenched here," he said. "I want to do everything I can to be a part of the team and to play well."
The hooker came off the substitutes' bench to score two tries in the 62-4 rout of Harlequins three days ago – his first tries since last July.
He reckons that win has got Rhinos back on track after a stuttering start to their engage Super League campaign.
"It was good," he said. "You have to feel for Harlequins, they had some front-liners out, but it was a game we needed to blow the cobwebs away a bit.
"Hopefully we can take a bit of that form into the Huddersfield game on Sunday. It's obviously going to be a bit tougher and we've got a hard month coming up."
Buderus feels Rhinos can still "sharpen up a bit" on attack and apply more pressure to opposing teams, but he said confidence is returning.
"It will come," he said. "The Rhinos faithful know what the team's capable of.
"Getting a bit more clinical is probably the key at this stage."
Meanwhile, the YEP understands Richard Silverwood, who was criticised for his handling of the Leeds' World Club Challenge loss to Melbourne Storm eight days ago, is to referee Rhinos' clash with Huddersfield on Sunday.
Prop Kyle Amor boosted his hopes of a first team call up with a hat-trick of tries as Rhinos reserves kicked off their season with a 34-12 win over Harlequins.
Paul McShane scored a try and kicked three goals and other touchdowns were registered by George Elliot, Jake Normington and Chris Clarkson.
The draw for the Carnegie Challenge Cup fourth round will be made at around 7.30pm today and will be broadcast on BBC Radio 5 Live.
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Weather for Leeds
Sunday 12 February 2012
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