Exiles will feel right at home doing battle with England

The Leeds Rhinos and ex-Australian Test star will lead the newly-formed representative side – consisting of Engage Super League’s finest Australian and New Zealand talent ‘exiled’ over here – against England in the Origin International Match on Friday, June 10.

After weeks of speculation, the highly-anticipated fixture was confirmed yesterday, replacing the much-maligned annual mid-season French match.

It is an attempt by national coach Steve McNamara to seek a more intensive and competitive preparation for the Four Nations and will see the RFL invite fans to vote for the overseas players they wish to see at Headingley Carnegie.

Buderus, 33, captained both Australia and New South Wales. He led the latter a record 15 times in the famously tough State of Origin competition.

He has been appointed by Exiles coach Brian McClennan, his former Leeds chief who will return from New Zealand next month to prepare the squad.

For many Australians and Kiwis who have to forego international football when they move overseas, the chance to battle against England once more is enticing.

Buderus told the Yorkshire Post: “It’s something we thought would never happen again when we all left to come over here.

“Hopefully it’s about being part of a team for everyone who gets selected in this Exiles squad.

“As much as it’s a new game we want to set a standard for the future of Exiles players. That’s the way we’ve got to look at it.

“Bluey (McClennan) is very passionate and he’s always harped on about how powerful it could be if Aussies and New Zealanders got together.

“Now we get to see it. If we can help out international football while representing the Exiles in our home away from home then that’s great too.

“When you look across the board at those playing here that aren’t actually English, then it’s a pretty good line-up.

“We’re confident we’ll be able to put on a good standard on the night and personally it’s a privilege and honour to lead this team.”

The calibre of names in the initial 34-man squad, such as Castleford stand-off Rangi Chase, Huddersfield’s World Cup winner David Fa’alogo, Hull KR’s Kangaroo forwards Willie Mason and Mick Vella, and Hull FC’s hardened Australian forward pair Craig Fitzgibbon and Mark O’Meley, gives an instant nod towards the standard of game likely to ensue.

Yesterday’s announcement followed on the back of a four-week ‘teaser campaign’ which had seen the arrival of the Exiles heralded with brooding imagery featuring strange hooded figures and the slogan ‘They’re Coming’.

The PR push concluded earlier this week with England players Kevin Sinfield and Sean O’Loughlin fronting posters beneath the words ‘We’re Waiting.’

After last June’s 60-6 thrashing of France and the previous year’s 66-12 rout in Paris, Rhinos captain Sinfield, who made his international debut in the 2000 World Cup, concedes England do need a tougher preparation.

He said: “It will be a different level of competition although the French had a raw deal.

“Catalan play in Super League and the majority of their players had to back up playing twice in two or three days which was really tough. But this is a great concept. When you look down at that list of Exiles players there are some incredible talents, some I’ve played against before in Test games, and it’s great for both them and us.

“The fans will really get behind it. It gives everyone the opportunity to become a coach of their own side.

“Everybody loves to think they can coach a team and hopefully that will gather some excitement and encourage people to get behind and back this game.

“We all recognise in this country that having a successful English side is really important and anything that can be put in place to improve that and increase performance is of great value.

“The big thing for the England team is we know we need to spend more time together and Steve (McNamara) started that process.

“Now, to have a game of this magnitude with such great players is mouthwatering.

“You want to see the best players play against each other – why not in this country?

“But it needs a to be given a couple of years then hopefully we can turn it into a three-game series.”

Buderus admits he is relishing the chance to re-visit Origin style concepts such as taking on his club colleague Sinfield.

“In Origin, it’s mate against mate,” he said, about his relentless battles with Queensland.

“And ‘the best of mates, the worst of enemies.’ That’s one line we’ll probably roll up in camp.

“Fans get to see their team going up against each other. Hopefully Leeds’s will see myself, Kylie Leuluai and Brent Webb up against Kev and everyone else.”

Rovers’ Australian scrum-half Michael Dobson – named in the 2010 Super League Dream Team – is the only real notable absentee from the inaugural Exiles squad and another missing half-back is the influential Lee Briers, who is out of the Warrington squad for the top-of-the-table game at Huddersfield Giants tomorrow due to a dead leg.