Buderus fights to play in final series
Newcastle hooker Danny Buderus will need to create history at the NRL judiciary on Wednesday night in order to play again in this year's final series.
Buderus decided to contest the severity of his grade three dangerous throw charge which threatens to bring a premature end to his season, with his fate to be decided at a hearing in Sydney on Wednesday night.
The Test rake was charged for a spear tackle on Manly winger Michael Robertson in last Friday's thrilling 25-18 qualifying final win at EnergyAustralia Stadium.
The 28-year-old is attempting to do what no other player has done in the history in the game - have a dangerous throw charge reduced by two grades.
If successful, he'll miss just Saturday night's Aussie Stadium clash with Brisbane - but faces a six-game ban if he fails.
As part of their defence, the Knights will compare Buderus' tackle to similar tackles which have earned only a grade one charge.
"We're doing everything we can to look at other examples, we're looking at a number of factors that contributed to the spectacular nature of the tackle," Knights coach Michael Hagan said.
"We can only go there with a decent case in mind and appeal to the severity of the grading in the first place.
"It's a disappointment but it's not unlike the situation with Andrew Johns.
"I mean we're not counting on him being here this week and then it's a matter of what we can argue tomorrow night as far as his grading's concerned."
When asked if Robertson would be asked to write a supporting letter to the judiciary, Hagan answered: "No, not sure about that yet ... I don't know that we've gone that far at this stage."
Manly skipper Ben Kennedy felt for his former Kangaroos teammate.
"You never wish that upon anyone really mate, anyone to miss a semi-final or grand final is shattering," he said.
"That's why you play, I guess these things happen, it's just unfortunate."
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