Bulldogs prop David Klemmer makes mockery of Dragons’ ‘Origin hangover’ with strong form

ORIGIN hangover? What Origin hangover. While St George Illawarra’s NSW contingent has been copping flak for falling off the pace since Origin, Canterbury’s David Klemmer has taken his game to another level.

David Klemmer almost ran for more metres than the Dragons pack last week. Picture: Brett Costello

ORIGIN hangover? What Origin hangover.

While St George Illawarra’s NSW contingent has been copping flak for falling off the pace since Origin, Canterbury’s David Klemmer has taken his game to another level.

He ran for an incredible 276 metres against the Red V last weekend.

In case you were wondering, that’s only 63 metres short of the Dragons’ entire starting forward pack.

Klemmer’s monster performance isn’t a once off. The Blues behemoth has gone from strength to strength since lifting the Shield in July.

According to Fox Sports Lab, Klemmer was already averaging a huge 172 metres a game before Origin.

That number has jumped to 186 metres since returning from Blues camp.

Despite his stunning stats, the Bulldogs big man remains his own harshest critic. He says he leaves the field at full-time “filthy” with himself.

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David Klemmer almost ran for more metres than the Dragons pack last week. Picture: Brett Costello

“I’m never happy with how I play,” Klemmer told The Daily Telegraph.

“There is always stuff I can work on and I’m always trying to fix things up because I just want to better myself.”

Klemmer does credit his time under NSW coach Brad Fittler as another reason for his purple patch in the blue and white.

“There’s one thing that I learned from Freddy [Fittler] is that you have to perform week in and week out. You have to be consistent in what you do and that’s what I try to be,” he said.

“I just want to improve my game. I just want to learn. It’s hard, teams go through those things [form slumps] and I feel for the those Dragons fellas, they’re good players so once they get their groove back they’ll be on fire.”

Teammate Adam Elliott says winning the Origin series was the perfect antidote to what had been a tough year for Klemmer at Belmore.

Klemmer’s form has shown no signs of any ‘Origin hangover’. Picture: Brett Costello

“He’s been working so hard and playing so good for us and not getting the results at the start of the year. When we were losing more than we were winning, I know that was taking a toll on him,” Elliott said.

“He plays with his heart on his sleeve and to go away and get those results for NSW was great for his mind set.

“He brought a lot of positive energy back into our camp and it’s showing.”

Klemmer again expressed his desire to remain at Belmore long-term. He loves the Bulldogs and wants to win a title in Canterbury colours.

The Dragons forward pack has struggled since the end of the Origin period. Picture: Brett Costello

But when it comes to negotiating his contract extension, Klemmer, as one the club’s better performers over the last few seasons, will be looking for a top-up in-line with what the best players in his side are earning.

Not that he will be making any unreasonable demands, if he keeps delivering the kind of football he has in 2018 he won’t have too.

“When you start worrying about money it gets into your head and your football suffers and you start worrying about things,” he said.

“I just have to worry about what I can do and what I can do is be consistent.

“Being consistent is what will look after me and my family.”

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Originally published as Bulldogs prop David Klemmer makes mockery of Dragons’ ‘Origin hangover’ with strong form