David Klemmer almost unrecognisable with a full head of hair and werewolf beard

USUALLY, he’s the giant with the baby face that terrorises opposition forwards but he will be almost unrecognisable at the Auckland Nines.

Canterbury Bulldogs prop David Klemmer at Sydney airport check-in, on a trip to Auckland for the Nines tournament. Klemmer is sporting new long hair and beard, very different from the clean-shaven, bald look he's had in recent years. Picture: John Fotiadis

THE bromance between Aaron Woods and David Klemmer is becoming creepy with the Canterbury prop now rocking a new beard and long locks.

Klemmer looked in the early stages of a Woods-like makeover as he flew out for the Auckland Nines.

The towering Bulldogs enforcer started to spring a beard and new hairstyle while on tour with Woods during the Four Nations tour late last year. Now there is talk coming out of Belmore Klemmer could grow his hair right out and adopt a Woods-style bun.

Hair of the Dog: David Klemmer on his way to the Auckland Nines. Picture: John Fotiadis

He is set to further emulate his close friend and Wests Tigers skipper by taking on a leadership role in his fifth season of NRL at the club.

“He’s only 23, but he’ll be a leader in our team, whether he likes it or not,’’ Bulldogs teammate Josh Reynolds said. “There will be guys looking up to him as an enforcer, and I think he’s ready for it. I definitely think the Four Nations will only give him more confidence. It’s pretty scary the idea of a confident Klemmer.’’

David Klemmer was almost unrecognisable at Sydney airport. Picture: John Fotiadis

Reynolds was almost speechless when talking about Klemmer’s new look, and even argued his personality was similar to Woods.

“He’s got the hair going, but I better not reveal what will happen. I’ll let everyone see it when it happens. But be ready,’’ Reynolds said.

Woods was equally impressed with both Klemmer’s new look and his maturity.

“I love his hair,” Woods said. “I was running my hands through it the other day. It’s like a mini-afro.

David Klemmer’s usual look before letting his locks go wild. Pic Mark Evans

“He’s grown up a lot since I first met him. Not only on the field but off it.”

Apart from Klemmer, Englishman James Graham, Aiden Tolman and Sam Kasiano, who has stripped more than 10kg during the summer, Reynolds also had a healthy opinion of rookie forwards Renouf To’omaga and D’Rhys Miller.

Is David Klemmer trying to emulate Aaron Woods. Picture: Gregg Porteous

As for Canterbury bouncing back strongly — and making life easier for under-pressure coach Des Hasler — Reynolds said there had been a lot of “footy in our hands’’ during the pre-season, which was designed to cut out the worrying number of unforced errors.

“Last year our attack wasn’t firing at different stages, and there’s no better way to get the ball in our hands and get that confidence,’’ Reynolds said. “It’s a pretty smart ploy by Des.”

Speculation over Hasler’s future went into overdrive in December. Reynolds said it was a case of ‘’proving to ourselves we’re a good footy team, and making sure we never doubt ourselves’’.

Originally published as David Klemmer almost unrecognisable with a full head of hair and werewolf beard