Forget about your 15 minutes of fame. What Jamie Buhrer was granted was nine minutes of glory.
Rugby league glory to be exact, in the form of State of Origin.
It’s been almost three years since the Manly back-rower was given just nine tense minutes to prove his worth by NSW coach Ricky Stuart after receiving a surprise call-up to the Blues’ side.
Understandably, Buhrer struggled to make an impact on debut in the opening game in the 2012 series, ultimately won by Queensland on the back of Greg Inglis’ highly controversial ‘knock-on’ try.
An important cog in the Manly machine, who have again emerged as genuine premiership contenders this season, Buhrer returns to the representative scene for the first time since that fateful Melbourne match for City in Sunday’s fixture against Country in Dubbo.
Thrust into the City starting side, for his second cap in this match alongside 2012, Buhrer knows he has the chance to again press his Origin claims and to return to the arena he has hungered for, ever since those glorious nine minutes expired.
“It was awesome, just the week, the camp, the experience. Just being around the best players in the state and the coaches and some of the former greats, it is a week I won’t ever forget,” Buhrer said of his one and only State of Origin experience.
“I learned a fair bit.
“I didn’t get a lot of time on the field but it is something that leaves you hungry for more, so I am really keen to get back there.
“I played about nine minutes of an Origin game. That is nine minutes more than a fair few people will ever play so I am very grateful for that.
“It has left me wanting to get back and prove myself even more so.”
Buhrer said he was relishing the opportunity to further his representative education for City.
“I always enjoy playing in these games,” he said.
“I played my first one a couple of years ago and got a bit of time off the bench.
“So to be elevated to the starting side gives me a good opportunity to test myself against some of the best players.
“City-Country, first and foremost, is a showpiece game for putting your hand up for an Origin selection.
“If you can play some good footy, as people have shown in the past in this one, it gets you in their minds.
“It’s very good to be recognised for your form and I’m definitely happy with the way I have started the season.
“I have been lucky enough to get some minutes and play some good footy and now I am reaping the rewards.
