The NSW Rugby League Board is delighted to announce the appointment of True Blues Danny Buderus and Paul Sironen and successful Cowboys Football General Manager Peter Parr to the coaching staff of the Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues in 2018.
Buderus has been appointed as Assistant Coach to Brad Fittler, while Sironen and Parr will be part of the Blues management team along with NSWRL General Manager – Football Barrie-Jon (BJ) Mather.
All have been associated with winning cultures, with Buderus leading the Blues to consecutive series victories as captain in 2004 and 2005; and more recently experiencing success as the winning Blues Under-20 coach and successful assistant for the under 16s and 18s.
Sironen, a highly respected past player who represented the Blues 14 times from 1989-94, has been Team Manager of the successful NSW Blues under 16, 18 and 20 teams and the City Origin side which beat Country the past two years under the guidance of Fittler.
Newcastle-born Parr has worked at the Cowboys since 2002 and has been credited with creating and protecting the club’s enviable culture that has seen them reach the NRL Finals Series for the past seven years; and brings to the group current best practice at the elite level of the game.
NSWRL Chairman Dr George Peponis OAM said: “It is great to have such highly respected and experienced people of this calibre join our Blues coaching staff. There is no doubting their passion for the game and the Blues jersey.
“Danny Buderus has played at the highest level of the game; he has captained the Blues and led them to success; and more recently has played a key role in the success of our up and coming future Blues players in the pathways program.
“Paul Sironen is also a highly regarded True Blue and has done an outstanding job over a number of years managing our pathways teams and the City side; while Peter Parr is widely recognised as playing a key role in establishing the culture that has made the Cowboys a dominant force in the NRL.”
Buderus, who played alongside Fittler for NSW between 2002-04 and played 21 Origin games in total from 2002-08, hopes to bring a winning culture to the Blues senior team after coaching the NSW Under-20 side to victory against Queensland in 2017.
Buderus said: “Being appointed as Freddy’s assistant coach is a huge honour. It’s a special and exciting time to be a part of the NSWRL set-up and the new regime under Brad.”
“Everyone knows what the Blues jersey means to Freddy. For me, it’s about who has gone before you and leaving the jersey in a better place. I love the history of Rugby League but more importantly NSW.
“I’ve had some coaching experience here at NSWRL in the pathways programs and also at the Newcastle Knights, so I’m very excited to be putting my focus on the NSW State of Origin side.”
Sironen said: “It is such a great honour to be involved with the Blues and to continue to work with Freddy who I have established a great working relationship with over a number years during my time managing the City team and the Blues pathways program sides.
“I took great pride in representing NSW every time I pulled on the Blues jersey, and it is the same pride I will take into my new role with the team. It’s great to be a part of it.”
Parr said: “I was delighted to be approached and excited to be involved with Origin. I see my role as supporting Brad and the rest of the coaching staff to ensure the team gets the best possible preparation.
“With Brad coming on board and with the discussions he’s had with me, I’m really excited about what the team can produce.”
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