20/05/2008 2:04:52 PM
NSW captain Danny Buderus has declared this year's State of Origin series offers him a final chance to exit the representative arena a winner.
Buderus will begin his last Origin series on Wednesday night as he prepares to move to English Super League club Leeds at the end of the NRL season.
The Blues hooker gives himself little chance of figuring in Australia's World Cup campaign later this year, meaning his representative swansong could be just three games away.
"I'm realistic that this is my big chance to finish on a good note in the rep scene," he said on Tuesday.
"I sat down in the off-season and knew it was my last year and thought about what I wanted to achieve in my last year."
"To be part of the series and hopefully win it would be right up there."
"It would be a dream to hold that shield up but that's a lot of work and a long way away."
Buderus has left the door open for a call-up from World Cup selectors, but doesn't rate his chances.
"That's down the track. The World Cup is probably gone but if I throw my hand up and finish well and play well for the Knights, who knows what will happen," he said.
Buderus' immediate focus is on regaining the Origin crown from Queensland after back-to-back series defeats.
He dismissed claims the Blues are haunted by two years of failure.
"There is no baggage. You can't afford to have baggage in the week to week NRL, let alone a State of Origin series," he said.
"You've got to start afresh. We've got a good character in the team and a good defensive unit."
"If your defence is good, your attack is going to follow suit."
The Newcastle rake, who will lead NSW for the 13th time, hopes Blues fans will get to ANZ Stadium in big numbers and provide a hostile reception for the Maroons.
Queensland has won once in 12 visits to Olympic headquarters.
"We want to keep it that way. It's a home game for us - we've got two (this series) - and if we can make a statement early, they've got to come back for the third one and it will be a big advantage for us," Buderus said.