RUGBY LEAGUE
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Dragons captain Ben Creagh has been around long enough to know never to write off a team led by Newcastle legend Danny Buderus.
The Knights are at long odds to upset the Dragons at Jubilee Oval on Sunday, less than seven days after showing former coach Rick Stone the door and appointing Buderus as interim coach.
Stone's sacking, less than a year after taking over from Wayne Bennett, came amid accusations from the likes of eighth immortal Andrew Johns that the Knights have lost their identity.
No-one epitomises the traditional Newcastle values more than Buderus, who proved a potent foil to Johns in his long career in the red and blue before emerging as a successful Test and NSW captain in his own right over the latter-half of his career.
Creagh played alongside Buderus on the 2005 Kangaroo Tour and said he has not seen a fiercer competitor in his decade-long career.
He said he's sure to bring out the best in a Knights outfit that have won just two of their past 14 games.
"I was lucky enough to play alongside Danny Buderus and he's very knowledgeable and very well respected at that club," Creagh said.
"He's very experienced, he's played the game all over the world at the highest level. He's been through their best times and some of their tougher times. He's won a couple of premierships and played alongside the likes of Andrew Johns. I'm sure a lot of those players watched Danny Buderus play and know how well respected he is in Newcastle. He's done a lot for that club and the players will definitely play for him and not want to let him down."
Creagh isn't entirely sold on the theory that a change of coach mid-season automatically reverses a side's fortunes but - with his side desperately needing to halt a seven-game losing streak - expects the appointment of a club legend like Buderus to make things tougher for his side on Sunday.
"I think if you look at sport around the world, when you bring in a new coach midway through a season it brings a bit of a spark to a team, maybe a breath of fresh air to a side looking for a change or looking for something different in their game plan," Creagh said.
"I've got no doubt Newcastle will be the same this week. It's going to make our game tougher on Sunday."
Coach Paul McGregor is also expecting a positive response from the Knights and said his side certainly aren't banking on the drama to make their afternoon any easier.
"There's emotion behind the week for them and certainly Danny's presence will be important to their playing roster," McGregor said, adding the Knights would like to go out and play well for him.