David EdwardsBuderus Out, and Rightfully So!
September 13th 2006 12:43
Well the NRL finals have taken another dramatic twist this week. As Newcastle Knights are preparing to take battle against Brisbane in a do or die semi final on Saturday, their preparation has had a spanner thrown into the works.
With many Knights fans obviously distressed by the news, the Sunshine state would be ecstatic that hooker Danny Buderus has been scratched out for six weeks due to a dangerous throw charge. The tackle, which occurred in the dying minutes of the Manly final last Friday against Michael Robertson, was obviously a bad placed hit. With Buderus trying to get in downgraded, showing examples of various tackles thoughout the year given a lesser charge, the appeal was unsuccessful and at best the next time we see him will be in Round 4 next season.
When I head the news about this, I was overly pleased. Not because I am a fan of Brisbane, or even thought that the tackle was so bad that Buderus deserved the length of punishment, but rather because the judiciary board was able to stand up in a finals period and lay down the law on a key figure of the game.
Every year we seem to go through the same drama, where star footballer of a side is charged with some indiscretion, usually justified, but more often than not, the board will let them off with a simple slap on the wrist. We saw it last year with Barry Hall in the AFL, who was facing a suspension of the Grand Final, and it seems every year a key figure is on the chopping block for various charges.
I find it refreshing that despite Buderus will now miss any finals the Knights participate in after Saturday (if any) for his indiscretion. The tackle itself was truth be told, a combination of Robertsons speed and the position he was in, but to the public and the viewing audience, it looked extremely bad. Robertson was in a serious danger at one stage in landing squarely on his neck, and regardless if Buderus meant it or not, he was the prime reason of how it occurred.
I honestly believe that Buderus did not mean the seriousness of the tackle, and his apology after the game was indeed sincere. But that doesn’t matter in the face of the judiciary, and the throw was dangerous enough to warrant the grade three charge. What is even better was how the board was able to stand by its convictions, and even though it was bad that Buderus was rubbed out for so long, that is the term that must be served, finals or not.
The judiciary should be constant throughout the season. Finals or not, key player or not, rugby legend or not, the simple fact is if you break the laws of the game you must be punished. Buderus was wrong, plain and simple, and the board must uphold the laws and punishment of the charge. It is a shame that it means that he will miss the finals, but is just proves to everyone that not one person is bigger than the game, and if they do the wrong thing on the field, there are reprimands.
Until next time, sport minds.
With many Knights fans obviously distressed by the news, the Sunshine state would be ecstatic that hooker Danny Buderus has been scratched out for six weeks due to a dangerous throw charge. The tackle, which occurred in the dying minutes of the Manly final last Friday against Michael Robertson, was obviously a bad placed hit. With Buderus trying to get in downgraded, showing examples of various tackles thoughout the year given a lesser charge, the appeal was unsuccessful and at best the next time we see him will be in Round 4 next season.
When I head the news about this, I was overly pleased. Not because I am a fan of Brisbane, or even thought that the tackle was so bad that Buderus deserved the length of punishment, but rather because the judiciary board was able to stand up in a finals period and lay down the law on a key figure of the game.
Every year we seem to go through the same drama, where star footballer of a side is charged with some indiscretion, usually justified, but more often than not, the board will let them off with a simple slap on the wrist. We saw it last year with Barry Hall in the AFL, who was facing a suspension of the Grand Final, and it seems every year a key figure is on the chopping block for various charges.
I find it refreshing that despite Buderus will now miss any finals the Knights participate in after Saturday (if any) for his indiscretion. The tackle itself was truth be told, a combination of Robertsons speed and the position he was in, but to the public and the viewing audience, it looked extremely bad. Robertson was in a serious danger at one stage in landing squarely on his neck, and regardless if Buderus meant it or not, he was the prime reason of how it occurred.
I honestly believe that Buderus did not mean the seriousness of the tackle, and his apology after the game was indeed sincere. But that doesn’t matter in the face of the judiciary, and the throw was dangerous enough to warrant the grade three charge. What is even better was how the board was able to stand by its convictions, and even though it was bad that Buderus was rubbed out for so long, that is the term that must be served, finals or not.
The judiciary should be constant throughout the season. Finals or not, key player or not, rugby legend or not, the simple fact is if you break the laws of the game you must be punished. Buderus was wrong, plain and simple, and the board must uphold the laws and punishment of the charge. It is a shame that it means that he will miss the finals, but is just proves to everyone that not one person is bigger than the game, and if they do the wrong thing on the field, there are reprimands.
Until next time, sport minds.
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Comment by llaw
The Sin Bin
Play On
However, you raised Robertson's speed and position, I would say that had Robertson not tucked his head in, he would be in a far worse condition!
I was there on Friday night and when it happened, from afar it didn't look overly dangerous - I thought, yep, it'll be on report and BK probably would be in trouble for goin over the top. But everytime I see it on replay I've got to say I'm more convinced he should have been sent off!
As I said, had Robertson looked "up" (ie. looked towards the ground) or even straightened his head he may be in a lot of trouble.
Comment by TheCoach
Also with your reaction about being sent off, i totally agree with you. no one could avoid watching the tackle time and time again, and every time it did look bad. However watching the tackle in real time did give off a bit of its danger, whilst the replay made it look a bit over the top.