NRL 2022: Klemmer reveals why he quit Newcastle and his plans to take Tigers back to the top
David Klemmer has opened up on life at the Wests Tigers, and the big man is blown away by not only the new facilities but also the young talent at the club.
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High profile Wests Tigers recruit David Klemmer has revealed why he quit Newcastle as he declared: “I still have the fire in my belly.”
Klemmer, 28, told of his plans to finally take Wests Tigers back to the top echelon of rugby league in an expansive interview with The Daily Telegraph at the club’s new Centre of Excellence.
“These guys here at Wests Tigers will get the best out of me,” said Klemmer, who described his introduction to his new club as an “eye-opener.”
“We have to make sure we don’t put in any shitty performances,” Klemmer declared.
Klemmer arrived from Newcastle last week as part of a player-swap with Jackson Hastings.
“I don’t think they wanted to extend me so I thought coming here was a big opportunity for me to come down,” Klemmer said.
THE FIRE BURNS
Klemmer told of his fiery passion towards his football this coming season at Wests Tigers.
“I still have the fire in my belly. Competitive… I’m a competitive person. I’m up early and want to try and be the first person here at training,” Klemmer said.
“I want to keep playing. I have made a promise to myself – once it starts to stop being enjoyable then I will give it away.
“But I still feel like an 18-year-old kid. I get nervous – I still love it. And that’s what I mean – fire in the tummy. I love coming here, competing and being pushed to be better.
“I want to compete on all drills. This move has been good for me, especially given this club has such a young squad.
“I’m 28 years old so a lot of the players here are a lot younger. These guys will get the best out of me. They are pushing me and I’m enjoying it.
“I will turn up every week and give my all. After the year they had last season, the only way is up. I just love playing footy, mate.”\
BEST IS TO COME
At 28, many believe a front-rower is still coming into his prime.
Klemmer will bring 194 games of NRL experience, having also played 14 Origin games for NSW and 19 Tests.
“I don’t want to come here and stuff around,” Klemmer said.
“I want to play consistent, good footy. If I can help some of these guys play first grade then I want to be part of that.
“I can’t wait to get out there and start mixing it and playing with some of the talented young kids we have here. I can see something here.
“In the early days I was a bit wild and had to learn to manage it. It (his aggression) has been tucked away there for the last year but the ‘big fella’ can still come out.
“The club just wants me to play my own game, be the player I want to be and play my best footy.”
WHY TIGERS
Klemmer arrives at a club which hasn’t played finals football since 2011 and finished last this year with just four wins.
The bookies have already written off their chances in 2023.
“It wasn’t an issue coming here. I was in a similar boat last year with the Knights. We finished somewhere similar,” Klemmer said.
“Wests Tigers beat Parramatta last season, they beat some of the top sides so they obviously have some sort of talent here.
“The club has had a clean out with some staff in coaching and high performance. The club has their own approach and how they’re doing things around training.
“I just want to make sure our performances are consistent. We don’t want to be going up one day and down the next. We have to make sure we don’t put in any s**ty performances.”
The loss of Hastings will sting but Wests Tigers have compiled a fiery and aggressive pack which includes Klemmer, Api Koroisau, Isaiah Papali’i and possibly John Bateman.
“They are quality players and it would be great to have them around,” Klemmer said. “It will be good to get some chemistry and build with this footy side because it is shaping up to be pretty good.”
TIGER CUBS
Klemmer offered up three rising stars he has predicted will star for Wests Tigers.
“Young Stef (Stefano Utoikamanu) had an injury-riddled season but you see glimpses of what he can do. He is going to be a very good player if he keeps developing over the next couple of years. He’s only a young bloke but I think he’s got it,” he said.
“And young ‘Juzza’ (Justin Matamua, who debuted this year against Parramatta), he was just included in the top 30. He’s been pretty good. And Fonua Pole, he is very impressive.”
“There are some talented kids here. This is a young squad, but geez, very skilful.”
SHEENS & BENJI
Veteran Tim Sheens will coach Wests Tigers for the next two years before club legend Benji Marshall assumes the top job for the following three seasons.
“When we are around footy, they are switched on. They breed that,” he said.
“I was looking and exploring my options around my future and those two were appealing. I sat down with ‘Sheensy’ and, after one meeting, I thought they were going to be hard to beat. He has a different approach and different way, different style.
“Sheensy is a footy man, he’s a rugby league man and when he talks, you listen. When you train, he’s hard but he also wants you to enjoy it off the field as well. The way he treats everyone, even the young guys.
“Benji as well. He was another big reason; how he sees the game and how he conducts himself around training and how he talks to the players. He will be a great coach, you can just see it.
“Once footy stops, they want to get to know you and have a muck around. Those two bouncing off each other has been unreal for me. I thought the change would be good. It’s only been a week but you can definitely see some of the changes in and around the change rooms, and on the footy field.”
LEAVING THE KNIGHTS
Klemmer left Newcastle despite claiming this year’s player’s player award and having a year remaining on his contract. He contested 18 games and ran for an average of 155 metres a game.
“Mate, I would have loved to stay – I loved the place but that’s how footy works. Some things happen like this,” Klemmer said.
“I don’t think they wanted to extend me so I thought coming here was a big opportunity for me to come down.
“It’s different for me coming from Newcastle, a different approach, different coaching. It’s a breath of fresh air. Video, skills on the field, it’s serious.
“Obviously picking my family up again and moving down to Sydney is a bit tough and I thought it would be exciting. Being here the last week or so, it has been eye-opening and seeing how happy everyone is around here has been pretty good.”
ZURICH CENTRE
Klemmer was glowing in praise for Wests Tigers’ new 84 million dollar Centre of Excellence and community sport precinct, the Zurich Centre.
The Daily Telegraph was given a tour of the remarkable facility which includes sleep and rehab facilities, gym, aquatic recovery pools, sauna and steam rooms, games room, open floor plan, kitchen and dedicated sports science areas.
There is even a barber’s chair with photos on the wall of former long-haired Tigers and Magpies greats Kerry Hemsley and Mick Liubinskas hanging on the wall.
“It is unbelievable, it’s huge. I’ve heard people say it might be hard to get people here to train in the off-season and do extras,” Klemmer said. “They can’t get them out now. It’s very appealing to the boys to get in here and do their training.
“These facilities are world-class. That’s why they want to come here and rip in with their cardio, run on the nice playing field, go for a swim, have an ice bath, jump in the sauna. Who wouldn’t you want to use it? It’s awesome, mate.”
BROOKS BASHING
Few in the NRL play under such pressure and scrutiny than Wests Tigers halfback Luke Brooks. Watching from afar, Klemmer has always been stunned at the strain Brooks plays under.
“When you think of the Tigers, he is one of the highest paid. He has been in a struggling side so obviously they (critics) have to go after him,” Klemmer said.
“When you’re on that (pay) wicket, you’re open to it. He has done his best with what he’s had. He is a quality player. When he’s on, he’s on.
“Luke has had some injuries as well which he would admit to himself. But I’m that pumped for him. Every time I watch the Tigers I just want him to do well.
“I have known him for a long time through mutual friends. If we can build a side here and win some footy games, and make him play to his potential, it’s going to be exciting.
“Api (Koroisau, recruit) will be very good for him and help further his game even more, or just let him play his own game.”
KNOWLES DRAMA
Klemmer and veteran Newcastle trainer Hayden Knowles engaged in an on-field blow up in August. Both are no longer at the club. Klemmer was temporarily stood down by the club and forced to front the club’s human resources department.
“It was just unfortunate, I reckon. It was just how things panned out and the situation got to HR and they then had to go through the procedures,” Klemmer said.
“It was very uncomfortable going to HR - not just for myself but for my family and kids.
“It got dragged out through the media which was very disappointing. I had to go through a lot of steps and protocols.
“Me and Knowlesy have known each other for a long time. It was just an unfortunate incident. It is what it is and given the year we had as a footy club, it wasn’t ideal.”
ORIGIN SNUB
Despite a strong season at Newcastle, Klemmer was overlooked by NSW coach Brad Fittler this year.
“That’s the way it goes,” Klemmer said. “I got injured at the start of the year and came back rarin’ to go but probably knew I wasn’t going to make it.
“You’ve got to be up in those top eight sides and going really well to get noticed. That’s who they lean towards.
“I’d love to play (Origin) again. That’s why you play footy. You want to be in and around that. But as long as the Tigers are happy with me and I’m making some sort of progression, that’s a tick for me.”
KLEM’S LEGACY
Will he be remembered as Bulldog, Knight or Tiger?
“We’ll have to wait and see after this stint,” he said. “I really enjoyed my time at the Knights and I love the Bulldogs as well. As a kid, I was a Bulldogs supporter.
“We’ll see when it’s all said and done.
“But right now, I just want to train hard, have a good off-season and pre-season and obviously have a better year than the club did last season.”
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