~Wild Child~
31-01-07, 02:22 PM
Blues sow seeds for Origin fightback
Sunday, January 28, 2007 - 5:35 PM
New South Wales on Sunday sowed the seeds for its State of Origin rugby league campaign, Blues skipper Danny Buderus declaring they were up to the challenge of wresting the trophy back despite playing twice in Brisbane.
A preliminary NSW squad completed a weekend camp at Bondi Beach where the players had a video session, team dinner and a swim.
Hooker Buderus made it clear last year's painful series loss to Queensland had not yet been consigned to history's rubbish bin.
"It's about preparation and talking about what went on last year and you don't have to talk long to remember," Buderus said.
"Speaking to some of the boys it was a hard loss, it was a kick to the body so we've got to push on and try to win the series back."
Buderus acknowledged NSW faced a tough challenge to regain Origin supremacy with just one of the three 2007 matches in Sydney.
"We've got a massive job ahead of us, we've got to win it back and any professional sportsman are proud of what they do and especially anyone who plays for the Blues, they want to get it back," Buderus said.
"Up there its a huge task ahead of us and were up to the challenge."
Asked what the players got out of the camp Buderus replied: "Initiation, you get to meet people that you haven't met before.
"You've got a core group of New South Welshmen and then you've got at least another half a dozen blokes you haven't met before and it's about preparing for that series in June.
A start of year camp is a novelty for NSW though Queensland and Australia have done it previously.
"Muz (NSW coach Graham Murray) last year didn't have much time to get into this sort of stuff so he didn't have an opportunity," Buderus said.
"It's worked out really well, he gets to see everyone again and he gets to talk about what went on last year."
Buderus said Murray had not given the players a specific message.
"It's a long time away and you don't want to get too pumped up, you just sow the seeds and the boys are looking forward to that time when it comes around," Buderus said.
The Knights hooker will make a belated start to the NRL season after serving the remainder of a six-game suspension.
"I'm not going to go too hard, I'm not back till Easter so it's about being prepared for that day, so I'm just cruising along at the moment," Buderus said.
"I'm just enjoying getting my body recuperated and ready for a tough year."
AAP
Sunday, January 28, 2007 - 5:35 PM
New South Wales on Sunday sowed the seeds for its State of Origin rugby league campaign, Blues skipper Danny Buderus declaring they were up to the challenge of wresting the trophy back despite playing twice in Brisbane.
A preliminary NSW squad completed a weekend camp at Bondi Beach where the players had a video session, team dinner and a swim.
Hooker Buderus made it clear last year's painful series loss to Queensland had not yet been consigned to history's rubbish bin.
"It's about preparation and talking about what went on last year and you don't have to talk long to remember," Buderus said.
"Speaking to some of the boys it was a hard loss, it was a kick to the body so we've got to push on and try to win the series back."
Buderus acknowledged NSW faced a tough challenge to regain Origin supremacy with just one of the three 2007 matches in Sydney.
"We've got a massive job ahead of us, we've got to win it back and any professional sportsman are proud of what they do and especially anyone who plays for the Blues, they want to get it back," Buderus said.
"Up there its a huge task ahead of us and were up to the challenge."
Asked what the players got out of the camp Buderus replied: "Initiation, you get to meet people that you haven't met before.
"You've got a core group of New South Welshmen and then you've got at least another half a dozen blokes you haven't met before and it's about preparing for that series in June.
A start of year camp is a novelty for NSW though Queensland and Australia have done it previously.
"Muz (NSW coach Graham Murray) last year didn't have much time to get into this sort of stuff so he didn't have an opportunity," Buderus said.
"It's worked out really well, he gets to see everyone again and he gets to talk about what went on last year."
Buderus said Murray had not given the players a specific message.
"It's a long time away and you don't want to get too pumped up, you just sow the seeds and the boys are looking forward to that time when it comes around," Buderus said.
The Knights hooker will make a belated start to the NRL season after serving the remainder of a six-game suspension.
"I'm not going to go too hard, I'm not back till Easter so it's about being prepared for that day, so I'm just cruising along at the moment," Buderus said.
"I'm just enjoying getting my body recuperated and ready for a tough year."
AAP