It was as hard as any State or Origin or test match he's played. The ordeal gave him a few headaches, but not from ferocious head clashes. Buderus has written - or at least co-written, his first book, titled Talent Is Not Enough.

He was assisted in the task by rugby league writer Neil Cardigan.

"It was hard being on the other side of the world playing football and also getting this done,'' Buderus reflected while on sabbatical at his parent's home in Forster this week. He played in the English Super League this year with Leeds.

The tome isn't a life story. There's no tales of a young Buderus running around in the Group Three junior competition. More it's a series of observations and recollections the former Australian test and State of Origin hooker and captain has gleaned from his decade or so in the NRL while also playing in the code's upper echelon.

"There's no bombshells or anything like that,'' he said, although Newcastle media reports indicate Buderus's falling out with former Knights' coach Brian Smith gets a sizeable mention.

He's in Australia for another month or so before heading back to Leeds to play what will probably be the final chapter of his career.

"It's getting close,'' he said of retirement.

"This is the final year of my contract.''

He had a horrendous year with injuries in his debut season with Leeds in the British Super League. Buderus first had to wait until a bicep injury sustained while playing for the Knights healed. He only played 40 minutes of his comeback game before he injured his knee and faced a further seven weeks on the sideline.

Buderus then put together 14 matches and was starting to show some of the form that made him the world's best number nine when he broke his leg, so ending his campaign.

"The injuries made it a tough year,'' he said.