David Klemmer on why the Knights can win the premiership

David Klemmer is in Newcastle because Mitchell Pearce wants another premiership. And the Australian Test prop believes he can make that dream happen.

Klemmer is excited by his prospects in red and blue. (Brett Costello)

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David Klemmer is in Newcastle because Mitchell Pearce wants another premiership.

That’s the simplest way to put it. And what the Australian Test prop remembers most of regular conversations with the Knights No.7.

For as you may have read previously, Pearce was desperate to get Klemmer on board. A key figure in his signing, too.

And while obviously a contract worth $4.3 million over five years is a lure, we wanted to know exactly how the 2013 Roosters premiership winner cemented it?

Klemmer is excited by his prospects in red and blue. (Brett Costello)

“Chatting with Pearcey,” Klemmer recalled, “I could really tell how much he wants to win another title.”

Which says plenty, right?

“We do have a great opportunity here at Newcastle now,” the prop continued. “And we have to embrace that.

“We want to build something special and make some real memories.”

Already one of the most dangerous forwards in the NRL, 25-year-old Klemmer suddenly looms as the signing capable of joining imported Knights premiership heroes Ben Kennedy, Tony Butterfield, Robbie O’Davis and Adam MacDougall.

Indeed, this is what Pearce sees in Klemmer.

And why, early last November, the veteran halfback hit Klemmer with what the Canterbury-Bulldogs enforcer remembers as “quite a few calls”.

Pearce sold Klemmer his vision for Newcastle. (Tracey Nearmy)

For while it has been 17 years since Newcastle won an NRL grand final — and five since they finished any higher than 11th — this NSW Origin enforcer completes an astute spending spree by coach Nathan Brown.

And one that could see almost all this year’s starting side made up of players who have joined the club since 2018. Better, the Kangaroos prop reveals Brown is ready to overhaul his attacking game in 2019.

“Browny’s already picked up little things in my game that I had never realised before,” he said.

“And I’m really benefiting from that already. They’re just little technical things around my ball playing that won’t only help me but the players around me.

“Which is important because I don’t want to just be a bash-and-barge player. I want to play a bit of footy and I’ve got great players around me that can help with that.”

In Ponga and Klemmer the Knights certainly have a roster to compete. (Tracey Nearmy)

Asked what he knew about imported heroes like BK, Mad Dog and Butts, Klemmer continued: “I’ve actually been given a book on the club’s history to go through.

“I also spend a lot of time with chewing the ear of ‘Bedsey’ (NSW assistant Danny Buderus) about the players who have been here and what the place is about.

“But in saying that, we have to make our own history, our own chemistry, our own culture.

“We have to make our own memories.”

Klemmer has also been impressed by coach Nathan Brown. (Tracey Nearmy)

And a large chunk of that responsibility, Klemmer insisted, would belong to promising Knights forward Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Daniel Saifiti and Mitch Barnett.

The Kangaroos bookend said he expected big things from the Knights youngsters when placed among fellow signings like himself, Queensland Origin forward Tim Glasby and Samoan international James Gavet.

“We feel like we can help the younger guys progress,” Klemmer said.

“I feel like the young forwards here, they were really thrown in at the deep end.”

Originally published as David Klemmer on why the Knights can win the premiership