Mikaele Ravalawa heading back to Dragons in 2026, David Klemmer joins Red-V

Mikaele Ravalawa and David Klemmer are on the move after being officially released by their respective clubs – but the flying Fijian won’t have time to put down roots.

David Klemmer is off to the Dragons. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer

David Klemmer is headed for a showdown with fellow Wests Tigers defector Stefano Utoikamanu with the former Test prop preparing to make his debut for St George-Illawarra against Melbourne.

Klemmer is on his way to the Dragons for the remainder of the 2025 season after securing a release from the Wests Tigers.

David Klemmer is off to the Dragons. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer

Dragons coach Shane Flanagan said he was excited to add Klemmer’s experience to his pack. “I’ve said publicly we are looking to bolster our middle forward stocks for this season so David is a great pick-up for us,” Flanagan said.

The Dragons formally announced the signing of the former NSW Origin and Australian forward on a one-year deal on Friday and Klemmer will join his new teammates on Monday.

In return, the Dragons have relinquished winger Mikaele Ravalawa to South Sydney in order to clear a spot in their top-30 roster to accommodate Klemmer.

Under the agreement, the winger will leave the Dragons immediately before returning to the club for the 2026 pre-season.

Mikaele Ravalawa will re-join the Dragons in 2026 after a stint with South Sydney. Picture: Getty Images

It’s not the only set of dominoes to fall across the NRL player market.

The Knights on Thursday released prop Sebastian Su’a, who has already agreed to join the Dolphins next season and became the first significant departure in the wake of the Dylan Brown signing.

He won’t be the last. The 21-year-old Su’A joined the Knights top 30 last season but was on the periphery of the squad this season in the wake of his decision to agree to terms with the Dolphins for 2026.

The Knights were expected to retain him for the season but altered their stance on Thursday in the wake of revelations they had struck a 10-year deal with Brown worth upwards of $13 million.

The Knights have released Sebastian Su’a ahead of his move to the Dolphins in 2026. Picture: NRL Imagery

Su’A made one first grade appearance for the Knights last season. The future of a host of Newcastle players is set to come under the microscope in coming months as the club prepares for Brown’s arrival.

Hooker Jayden Brailey has already agreed to join Canberra next season while Adam Elliott, Jack Hetherington, Jackson Hastings, Will Pryce and Kai Pearce-Paul are among the players who are off contract at the end of the season.

Elliott, Hastings and Hetherington are unlikely to be offered new deals while the Knights have adopted a patient approach with English duo Pryce and Pearce-Paul.

Jayden Brailey has already agreed to join Canberra and more Knights are expected to follow him out the door in 2026. Picture: Getty Images

Klemmer’s arrival at the Dragons is a major boost for coach Shane Flanagan, who has been searching for additional coverage and experience in his pack, particularly following Francis Molo’s contract saga and more recently the loss of talented young forward Ryan Couchman for the season due to a torn ACL.

St George-Illawarra centre Valentine Holmes, who played for Australia alongside Klemmer in the 2016 Four Nations, was asked on Tuesday what the 31-year-old could do for the Dragons pack.

“Obviously he’s a big body and has good punch,’’ Holmes said.

“We’ve probably missed that after losing Frankie (Molo), just that bit of aggression and punch through the middle.’’

Klemmer will use next week’s bye round to settle into Shane Flanagan’s system before his likely first appearance in the Red-V against the Melbourne Storm in round four at Jubilee Stadium on March 29.

The clash sets up the unique scenario of Klemmer going head-to-head with Utoikamanu – the pair joined at the hip only last season as the starting front-row for the Tigers.

The 31-year-old joined the Tigers in 2023, made 44 appearances for the club over two seasons. His experience and leadership have been invaluable during his tenure.

Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson commented on Klemmer’s departure:

“Klemmer has been a great clubman, and we thank him for that. We understand and support his desire to take on new challenges and we wish him and his family all the best in the future.”

Klemmer had a clause in his contract with the Tigers that would trigger a new deal for 2026 if he played 14-games in 2025.