Recalled David Klemmer to vent his frustrations on Maroons
There is only one thing worse than the anger David Klemmer felt after Queensland’s victory in Origin I. And that’s the hurt the Blues prop-forward is going to vent on the Maroons in game three.
David Klemmer says he’s ready to release three weeks of pent-up anger and frustration which has stayed with him ever since losing Origin I to Queensland in Brisbane.
And he’s willing to do whatever it takes to win the decider on Wednesday night, including hurling his huge frame into the Maroons with the aid of painkilling injections.
Just three weeks after breaking his wrist in the Origin opener, Klemmer took the long route to returning to the Blues inner sanctum — recalled after Tariq Sims was ruled out through suspension.
One of the Blues best in game one, the hard-running prop-forward returned to NSW camp on Wednesday.
It was a surreal feeling for Klemmer, who was told by doctors that he needed season-ending surgery on a wrist injury that saw him miss the Blues Origin II win in Perth, but return last Saturday in devastating fashion for the Knights against Brisbane.
“The pain (of Queensland’s Origin I win) lingered for as long as I was injured for,’’ Klemmer said.
“It was the loss and I broke my wrist, so I thought about it (defeat) for most of the time I was out.
“It (the loss) hurt.’’
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Klemmer revealed that just two days after playing with a broken wrist, he was told that surgery was required and that he would be out of action for up to six months.
“The doctor wanted to operate when I saw him on the Friday (two days after Origin I),’’ Klemmer said.
“The physios then worked out a plan and I was OK. It was about getting the movement back in the wrist.
“When they said that I was going to miss the rest of the season for the Knights, I was heartbroken.
“We didn’t want to take that road. I wasn’t going to miss footy for the rest of the year.
“I just had to get the right mindset of getting myself right, my body right to get playing footy.
“I just wanted to start playing footy. I was doing the physios heads in.
“The did a great job to put up with me and get me right. I can’t thank them enough.’’
Klemmer made his return against the Broncos with the assistance of painkilling injections and was likely to require pain-relievers on Wednesday night.
“I’ll see how I go with the pain (this week), I might just need one needle,’’ Klemmer said.
“On the weekend, I had a couple (of painkilling injections).
“I’ll strap it and (going forward), ‘I'll just have to manage it.’’
Upon checking in to the Blues hotel in Bondi, Klemmer crossed paths with Sims, who was checking out of camp following his failed bid at the judiciary.
The 25-year-old said he didn’t feel comfortable with how he was recalled back into camp, following the suspension of Sims.
“It was a tough situation to be in Freddy (Brad Fittler) let me know on Sunday night what the situation was and so my mindset was playing on Saturday for Newcastle,’’ Klemmer said.
“It’s pretty shitty when it’s on someone else’s behalf, that’s not what I’m about and I’m gutted for Tariq.
“It’s a shit decision to be in, but that’s how rugby league works. It’s a rollercoaster.’’
Overlooked for game three just 48-hours earlier, Klemmer is now in the frame to start the match in the front row alongside Newcastle teammate Daniel Saifiti.
“I’m happy to play anywhere, wherever Freddy puts me, I’ll be ready to go,’’ Klemmer said.
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