NRL: Danny Buderus says Jayden Brailey vital to the Knights as he prepares to return from ACL injury
If the Newcastle Knights want to take the next step in 2021, club legend Danny Buderus believes returning hooker Jayden Brailey will be crucial to the team’s chances.
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Newcastle’s greatest hooker Danny Buderus has hailed Jayden Brailey crucial to the Knights’ premiership aspirations as the young rake returns from injury in Saturday’s trial against Melbourne in Albury.
Brailey hasn’t played since suffering an ACL injury to his right knee in the Knights’ second round win over the Wests Tigers last March.
The setback was a bitter blow for Newcastle, who struggled to replace their No.9 recruit, with Connor Watson and Andrew McCullough also experiencing season-ending injuries.
Almost 12 months on, Brailey is fit and ready to fire following an extensive rehabilitation program.
It’s music to the ears of Buderus, who believes the former Shark is vital to Newcastle’s changes of climbing the ladder in 2021.
“It’s his (Jayden’s) calmness, pass selection and he makes other players around him better,” said Buderus, who is also Newcastle’s general manager of football.
“To have that as your hooker in that position is very important for the club.
“We had some injury problems at hooker last season with four or five different hookers last year, so it’s important to have some stability in that position.”
Buderus expects Brailey to take pressure off key spine players Mitchell Pearce, Kalyn Ponga, Kurt Mann and Blake Green.
Ponga (shoulder) will miss the first round against Canterbury, while Green won’t return until at least round 11 from a ruptured ACL.
Buderus can’t wait to see the Knights at full strength with Brailey pulling the strings from the No.9 jumper.
“You need that with the spine,” he said.
“We’ve got Kalyn coming back and Blake Green as well.
“You need some stability, so hopefully we can push on once they all get back together and we can push forward.”
Brailey will be rusty given his last game was this time last year, but Buderus is backing him to quickly find his feet and lungs against Melbourne on Saturday.
“He has been training for pretty much 12 months now, so he has just trained the whole time,” he said.
“There might be some timing out, but he has trained really well and the way they train these days to return to play with extensive physio and the programs.
“So, by the time they get back into the full-time squad and on the training paddock, they are leading the fitness.
“And that has been Jayden, and he will play well when he is in a game situation.”
Brailey has only played two games for Newcastle, but he is already in the club’s leadership group.
Buderus says this is a testament to the 24-year-old’s character.
“It is exciting the respect that Jayden got out of the group after only two games,” he said.
“And the way he has handled himself since, that is why he is in a leadership position at the club.
“Especially someone that comes new to the club, you want to see them have an opportunity to really stamp their authority.”
The Knights take on the Storm at the Albury Sports Ground from 4.45pm on Saturday.
Originally published as NRL: Danny Buderus says Jayden Brailey vital to the Knights as he prepares to return from ACL injury
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