Salford star's ripping yarn

Andrew Dunemann

The little Aussie rose from the clinging Odsal mud earlier this season to hear the referee in the Bradford Bulls match say: "You need the blood bin, son."

And he did. His right ear was hanging from his head and it took medics more than an hour to stitch it back into place.

He has since been told it could be three months before the ear is fully healed.

Dunemann, who now goes into battle wearing a black protective skullcap, said: "I hate wearing the damn thing but it could be permanent with how my ear was torn.

"I hope that won't be the case but I have to have it on to keep the ear from splitting.

"I haven't a clue how I got injured. You pick up endless cuts and you wonder the following day, `Where on earth did that come from?'

"I then tried to play against Catalans Dragons in France without the skullcap on but it was no use, the ear ripped again and it meant more stitching.

Inspired

"I just don't like having the helmet on but I have to because I want to be out there playing."

Dunemann, 29, who joined Salford from Leeds last season, has proved to be an inspired signing.

Now settled in well at Salford, Dunemann is enjoying his rugby.

He has moved house from Leeds to Worsley and is delighted to have cut down on motorway travel.

He added: "Sometimes the journey was taking three hours. It was getting too much but I'm enjoying my rugby a lot at Salford but the key of course is continuity and consistency.

"It's still very early on in the season but we have started well and we've turned in some good performances," he said.

"People keep saying we will fall on our faces but we have shown great spirit and we've played some good rugby.

"We have had injuries but we've still done well and I could not ask to be among a better group of guys. There is a very good spirit among the whole squad and their great commitment is there for all to see.

"Leaving a club like Leeds was always going to be a big decision but I planned to return home to Australia because my father, Wayne, who I have not seen for two years, was not in the best of health.

"He still isn't too well back home on the Gold Coast but I decided to give it a go at Salford and sign.

"The Salford set-up is very good, we work extremely hard and coach Karl Harrison has a very experienced team around him. He has played under Brian Smith and this is a big influence on how he coaches. Jimmy Lowes who is part of his coaching team is also very smart and they know what they want from the team."

Inspiring

Dunemann himself is eventually keen to pursue a coaching career but still feels he has much to offer as a player.

He is a quick thinker, a creator and a playmaker who has made his mark on the English game after first starring for Halifax.

His form for Salford has been good with him inspiring and prompting the team in the style that made him a firm favourite at Headingley with Leeds Rhinos fans.

And he is quick to acknowledge that his arrival at the Willows has possibly taken a large slice of the pressure and the expectation from the young shoulders of talented scrum-half Luke Robinson.

The two have gelled well at half-back where Dunemann's experience and organisational skills have been invaluable.

Dunemann speaks highly of Robinson and is equally complimentary about the contribution from try-scoring winger David Hodgson, the former Wigan star who has rediscovered the form that earned him international honours.

Dunemann added: "I would say Dave is the form winger in the competition right now.

"He's playing some great rugby. He's going well and the statistics show that for clean breaks, yards made and for overall contribution, he is right at the top of his game. He is in great form right now but consistency is the key for all of us.

"It's a long, tough season and a very tough competition but we know we needed a good start and we have something here to build on."

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