NRL 2023: David Klemmer opens up on Jackson Hastings clash after full-time of Knights v Tigers game

Wests Tigers enforcer David Klemmer has broken his silence on the explosive post-match confrontation with Jackson Hastings, insisting the Knights star ‘started mouthing off’.

Wests Tigers prop David Klemmer has lifted the lid on his explosive post-match confrontation with Jackson Hastings at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday afternoon, insisting he was trying to act as a peacemaker rather than incite a brawl.

Klemmer, Tigers centre Tommy Talau and Hastings had to be separated by security staff as the Knights’ gutsy win over the home side ended on an volatile and unsavoury note.

The incident kicked off when Hastings approached Talau to apologise for breaking his nose with a high tackle earlier in the match. The Tigers centre was in no mood for forgiveness and with the pair seemingly on the verge of exchanging blows, Klemmer felt the need to intervene.

Jackson Hastings and David Klemmer exchanged words at Leichhardt Oval. NRL Imagery

“I could see that Tommy didn’t want to talk about it and some argy-bargy happened,” Klemmer said.

“I went over and said ‘Leave him alone, he doesn’t want to talk to you’.

“That was it. The next thing there was a security guard and everyone is jumping in.

“Then he started mouthing off. It wasn’t like it was a melee. It was a bad scene.”

Klemmer, who swapped clubs with Hastings in the off-season, denied there was any history between the pair.

“I don’t know him from a bar of soap,” Klemmer said.

“Do I just watch and let them go at it? Do I just watch them throw it down? That’s what everyone wants.

“They want to see that. What do you do? I wasn’t even upset, I just said ‘That’s enough. You won the footy game, just walk away’.

“Maybe I just should have let them have it. Obviously it’s blown up and people have their own views. At the end of the day he got the win, he should have just walked away when Tommy said he didn’t want to talk to him, just accepted it.”

Klemmer admits the incident was magnified by the Tigers’ current plight. Picture: Getty Images.

Klemmer acknowledged the incident was probably magnified because of the Tigers’ current plight - they have lost their opening two games, both at their spiritual home of Leichhardt Oval.

“I’ve been around the game for a long time, whenever something like this happens it blows up,” Klemmer said.

“It’s unfortunate, we’ve just got to win footy games. We start winning footy games and playing a lot better [and the headlines disappear].”

‘FILTHY:’ WHAT SPARKED HASTINGS V KLEMMER STOUSH

—Brent Read, Fatima Kdouh

Jackson Hastings and David Klemmer had to be separated by security after full time at Leichhardt Oval as Newcastle’s gutsy win over the Wests Tigers on Sunday afternoon threatened to explode following the siren.

Hastings was placed on report earlier in the game for a high shot on Tigers centre Tommy Talau and tensions flared when the Knights half approached Talau after full time to apologise.

WATCH VIDEO IN THE PLAYER ABOVE.

Talau was in no mood for a chat and as the pair exchanged words, Klemmer intervened. Security got between the trio before Knights head of football Peter Parr dragged Hastings away from the situation.

Klemmer and Hastings swapped clubs in the off-season. On Sunday, they almost swapped right hands.

David Klemmer and Jackson Hastings had to be separated. Pic: Fox League

“It was a heat if the moment thing,” Hastings said.

“I went to apologise. I didn’t realise in the game I collected him high. I went to knock the ball out to stop a try.

“I got put on report and apologised on the field. Just tried to do the right thing at the end of the game by going up to say sorry, in the heat of the battle he was still angry, which I fully appreciate.

“No one wants to get hit in the head and they ruled him out for the game too, so I am remorseful, there was no intent. I can see why he would be frustrated.”

Asked about Klemmer’s reaction, Hastings said: “He is renowned for being a great teammate and he stuck up for his teammate.

“I had no issue with Tommy’s reaction. I would be pretty filthy myself. Sometimes in contact sports things go wrong.

“Last year I was out for six months with an accident … but I am really apologetic. Just again, pretty sorry and hope he is right to play next week.”

Hastings had a day to remember as he made his return to Leichhardt Oval for the first time since his end of season switch to the Knights.

Jackson Hastings and David Klemmer clash after full time.

Newcastle lost captain Kalyn Ponga early in the game to another head knock and hooked Jayden Brailey followed soon after.

They finished the game with injured Jack Johns as their only option on the bench after Jacob Saifiti was sent off for a high shot and Tyson Frizell succumbed to an ankle injury.

Asked whether there had been anything said during the game given his history with the Tigers, Hastings said: “I am passed that stage, I am 27 now. I have left that well in the past.

“I wanted to show the crowd and the players as much respect as I could. Hopefully I did that. There was no coming here to be cheeky or anything like that, I wanted to win, I wanted to play the game in the right way, and lucky to get the result.”

🚨 WARNING: Distressing vision. 🚨

Classy from the Tigers fans at Leichhardt, applauding when Kalyn Ponga was fine to walk off the pitch after a nasty head-knock.

🖥️ #NRLTigersKnights | https://t.co/AWYN7l5Oij#9WWOS#NRLpic.twitter.com/CtYydHhlrZ

— NRL on Nine (@NRLonNine) March 12, 2023

Tigers coach Tim Sheens had been asked about Hastings’ departure from the club in the lead up to Sunday’s game. He said it was because Hastings wanted to play lock. Hastings insisted that was not the case.

“I’ll just straight bat it, but no that’s not the reason,” Hastings said.

“To answer your question, no. That’s not how it went down. I’m not going to get into a war of words.

“I respect Sheensy. He coached me over in England in the All Stars team. He put a lot of faith in me to captain that side.

“I thought I had a good relationship with him. Things happen in footy. Things happen fast. They needed a prop and Newcastle needed a half.

“It was a fit for both clubs. I have nothing bad to say about anyone at the club.”

Originally published as NRL 2023: David Klemmer opens up on Jackson Hastings clash after full-time of Knights v Tigers game