Bulldogs look short of metres without David Klemmer
When David Klemmer departed Belmore last year, he took a staggering 175 metres a game along with him. Now Canterbury must put their faith in new recruits to fill the void.
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THE numbers just don’t stack up — Canterbury’s engine room have metres to make up in 2019 or they’ll be damned.
When enforcer David Klemmer departed Belmore at the end of last year, he took a staggering 175 metres a game along with him as he finished the top metre-eating prop in the NRL.
This hasn’t been missed by the bookies, who have installed the Dogs as $3.50 wooden spoon favourites for the new season — and is a major reason why they are being written off without a ball being kicked in anger for 2019.
The Bulldogs have recruited Dylan Napa and Sauaso Sue to fill the gaping Klemmer void, but according to Fox Sports Lab stats, together they combined for less than what Klemmer produced per game last year.
Napa ran for an average of 71 metres and Sue averaged 92 metres for a combined total of 163 metres. Combined, that’s still 12 metres short of Klemmer’s weekly haul.
But backrower Rhyse Martin, who had a breakout year for the Bulldogs, isn’t concerned. He’s confident Napa and Sue can fill any void left behind by Klemmer.
“I think the blokes that have come in Dylan Napa and ‘Jesse’ Sue have really stepped up,” he said.
“With the squad we have got now, we don’t have too many big names in there.
“But the boys that we do have are tough and hardworking and they are going to be massive for us this year.”
Despite competition for places across the backline and upfront, depth and class at the club remains a problem.
Coach Dean Pay has at least eight different options, including Will Hopoate, Nick Meaney, Reimis Smith and Christian Crichton, for his back five.
“There’s a lot of depth there as well and all are quality players,” Martin said.
“Jayden Okunbor was playing unreal when he finished his season off in the (Intrust Super Premiership).
“He’s very similar to Reimis Smith in that he’s a big body and very awkward to tackle and runs the ball hard.
“Christian Crichton’s hard to handle as well, he’s really powerful. And there’s Marcy (Marcelo Montoya). I think they’ll be really good.
“There is nothing better than being a forward when your back five are running past you off a kick return.”
The Bulldogs had a forgettable 2018 but ended the season with four wins from their last six matches.
Martin warned against anyone dismissing the Bulldogs.
“People can think what they want. I think the way the squad is at the moment and the brand of footy we are playing that we are really going to shake this competition up again this year,” he said.
“We weren’t horrible last year, we just couldn’t finish off very well and that’s something we’ve worked hard on this pre-season and I think we’ve gone up another level.”
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Originally published as Bulldogs look short of metres without David Klemmer
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