No, I think he's suggesting that Bedsy is no longer up to playing 80 minutes week in, week out. Something he could no longer do before he joined us and wasn't likely to be able to do 3 years and a serious injury later. Had he done that his 2 world class performances in two of our biggest games of the season might have been less impressive

Smith was tongue in cheek as last year you suggested he might be the answer there.

I'd suggest he'd have got into the following sides at Stand Off this year:

Wigan (with Finch at 7)
Saints (alongside one of the 2 youngsters)
Hull
Hull KR
Cas (with Chase at 7)
Bradford
Salford
Wakefield
Quins
Crusaders

The fact he would struggle to replace Briers/Myler, Brown/Brough is largely down to the fact that they need the quicker half to play alongside the organiser.

Perhaps we should take such a cautious position with all our recognised game winners and have all of Burrow, McGuire, Sinfield, Hall etc sat on the bench to prolong their careers at the club

Never stated he would be the "answer" there, merely he might be worth a try (when he seemed sharper and fitter) in the role.

As for the clubs you suggest Sinfield would command the SO position.....doesn't say much for the standards in the SL does it ?

Let me make this clear....I LIKE THE GUY. He needs to be included in the team. He is a BRILLIANT captain...at SO he fulfills the need adequately. At LF he fulfills the need better.

I believe Ablett would go better there...but Sinfield MUST be included and LF is his position IMO.

Perhaps, hooker is a position in the modern game where very few players play 80 minutes, let alone 32/3? year olds whose bodies have played at the top level for their entire careers.

I love the fact you have added command to the highlighted sentence.

Brilliant come back by the way.

[iTranslation:

Nantwich - I don't rate him at stand off. Can't be many other teams he'd get into.

Andy - Only 10 others.

Nantwich - Oh well, the standard must by e then.[/i
I can see you've thought this through well.

Ryan Hall for president!

I don't mean literally for the full 80 mins in the frontline role....of course he should have been 'spelled' for short periods.

I am referring more to the political "necessity" of giving first Diskin equal status and share of games from the bench....then the need to include Burrow similarly.

Belatedly McDermott realised Burrow as impact sub was indeed erdudite, but not at the expense of removing Buderus from the field.

For that I am grateful

....what a victory. Let's not argue anymore. We should continue to revel in it....and I do.

The Diskin point is old news. Most people could see the 2 of them would never work.

For me Burrow off the bench to spell him with Buderus returning after 20-25 mins worked fine. He was one of the most important players who we really needed to keep fresh throughout the year.

Oh, I'm revelling, don't worry!

I still find the time to challenge your incorrect views though

I fail to see on what basis Nantwich see Zac as a Stand Off?

He never played SO in his junior days at Fev Lions - why does he think he can suddenly make the leap to elite level?

Buderus 46 tackles 0 misses according to league express.

I watched the game back a couple of times and Buderus's defensive lead was fantastic.

Whenever Graham took the ball in Buderus was straight there to cut him down. Whether it was tactics or Buderus took it upon himself he certainly was instrumental in taking out Saints major go-forward threat.

A great end to his Leeds career and pleased to see him cut out the silly errors.

Well done for this post albeit with the customary final barb!

As I have previously said his contribution in defending the ruck area (with help from JJB & JP) prevented Saints from making progress in the area that was most crucial to them if they were to win.

In my book Buderus was a close 2nd to the outstanding Burrow for MOM. He also directed our attack well and was involved in the build up to the tries from Webb and Ablett. Yet some pundits didn't rate his performance worthy of the top 5......!

It is good that you have seen that "Buderus's defensive lead was fantastic" even though you needed to "watch the game back a couple of times" to appreciate this. Many of us were aware of this at the first time of watching!

I believe that if you were to watch back some of our other previous matches this year you will see Buderus putting in similar performances. (even though not on the field for 80mins!) Had others (JJB apart) matched his efforts we would have won more games. He will take some replacing.

Outstanding defensive efforts, as you'd expect from a player's final appearance for a club. Really tore into Saints, and his technique is second to none. His defensive work rate will be missed next season, as I think that McShane has not excelled in this area so far.

I think you will find that I had to watch the game back because I had the misfortune of sitting in the Saints end behind an obnoxious bunch of aggressive St Helens fans who ruined the entire 1st half and spoiled my view of the game throughout.

Your assumptions and defensive reaction to me pointing out his error free game are duly noted though.

He'll be missed. And we'll only know how much he's missed next year. He's been a pleasure to watch, but times change and things move on. Gutting.

We'll be fine. Thanks for the memories but I am already looking forward to seeing Hood and McShane develop.

I'm not trying to be clever or have a go here G. Now you have the full picture do you think he was a good signing? I was the one who broke the news on the site! Up late browsing the net, it just popped up! I wasn't sure at the time what to think. I have thought his quality was always outstanding. He had some poor games but mostly was class for me. Genuinely interested to know what you think now he's moved on?

Cheers Danny, it's been a pleasure to watch one of the best players in his position of his generation.

danny has been fantastic for leeds sorry to see him go and i wish him all the best ,but we have to move on and give the young lads a go

He's one of the all time greats of the game.

He has played some very good games for us but he hasn't been dominant enough consistently enough for my liking given his reputation. Perhaps that isn't his fault. His first two seasons sharing with Diskin clearly didn't work, through no fault of either player.

I think he was an unnecessary signing given the success we enjoyed with the incumbent (something Buderus himself agrees with btw) and the glaring needs elsewhere in the squad at the time.

I think the adulation afforded him by our fans was out of proportion to his displays for us and OTT. That has always been my major issue which is really more an issue with fans than Buderus. Dare to even point out an error on his part and you cop it with both barrels. He was untouchable unlike others that had perhaps more so deserved that kind of unswerving loyalty and support. Again, an issue with fans rather than player.

Those have always been my views and, for some reason, they seem to ignite a passion amongst posters who cannot actually comprehend what I've put.

I am pleased he's had a fitting end to his Leeds career as he seems a genuinely nice bloke. We'll move on without him just as we've moved on when past greats have retired or left the club but the "we're doomed" response to his departure illustrates my point really.

I can see what you are saying and you make good points but after you have seen his Leeds career start to finish,

was he a good signing in your opinion. Yes or no?

To specifically answer the question "was he a good signing", taking into account the quota spot, the incumbent player, the salary, the needs elsewhere, the way the team handled his absence post July 2009 then I'd have to say, on balance, and the last two months have made this closer than it should be........... then no.





Bring it on.

I've never seen any need for talking about Buderus to descend into a Buderus vs Diskin debate.

Diskin is a nailed on hall of famer for Leeds, local lad who contributed a huge amount over 10 years.

Buderus is an all time great of the sport who arrived at Leeds a little past his best, and probably won't be 100% happy with what he's accomplished. I don't believe for a second that he was one of those who came here just for the pay day, and I suspect his determination to finish his spell here with a GF win may have been a big plus for us in our end of season run.

His injury in his first year was the sort of thing that has sent a plethora of overseas stars running back home, but he clearly wanted to see the job through.

In the final analysis, his total Leeds contribution lags behind Diskin, but that doesn't matter. Great player, model professional, natural born winner. Finished his spell here really, really strongly, and I'm glad that's how he will be remembered by Leeds fans.

Was he a necessary signing? Possibly. Not sure Diskin still had it to be honest. Sentiment is a wonderful thing, but over the past year to 18 months Buderus has been the better player by some distance.

I can't argue with an yof this.