Huge Blues blow as star prop David Klemmer sidelined

Blues coach Brad Fittler already had a job on his hands rallying NSW to square the State of Origin series, but now he’ll have to do it without his best forward.

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Dave Klemmer is so tough he had no idea he’d fractured his wrist in the brutal exchanges in Wednesday night’s State of Origin game.

The Blues and Newcastle Knights front-row enforcer didn’t even ice the injury after the game, such is his resistance to pain.

It was only when he arrived home the next day that his wrist began hurting and he was sent for X-rays that revealed a fracture that would sideline him for the remainder of the Origin series.

David Klemmer on the charge for the Blues in Origin I. Picture: Getty Images

NEXT STEP: Who replaces Klemmer in Blues side for Origin II?

“He’s such a tough bugger,” said NSW coach Brad Fittler, “He didn’t even know during the game. He complained to no one. It’s a cruel, cruel blow.

“He said it only started to hurt badly when he got off the plane so he had an x-ray this morning.

“We’ll think about the options we have to replace him over the weekend.”

There are four candidates pressing for selection – the Broncos’ Matt Lodge, the Cowboys’ Jordan McLean, the Sharks’ Matt Prior and Panther forward Reagan Campbell Gillard.

Fittler is likely to pick two of the above four, one as a replacement for Klemmer and the other to play off the bench to give the Blues more oomph in the middle.

Klemmer was the best forward on the field despite playing in a losing side.

David Klemmer arrives back in Sydney on Thursday with Blues teammate Nick Cotric. Picture: AAP

It is a massive blow for NSW’s hopes of squaring the series in the second game in Perth and also for Newcastle’s finals hopes .

Knights coach Nathan Brown told the Saturday Telegraph it was expected the former Bulldogs forward would miss four to six weeks.

“I really feel for him,” Brown said, “He’s been playing great footy for us and NSW.

“A lot of clubs are really suffering at the moment and we’ll just have to do our best.”

Fittler met with his senior advisers Greg Alexander and Danny Buderus yesterday to watch replays of the game.

The Blues are remaining tight lipped about the halves Nathan Cleary and Cody Walker and their chances of playing in Perth.