David Klemmer leaves Wests Tigers to join Dragons on one-year deal, Knights release Sebastian Su’a

David Klemmer has played his last game for the Wests Tigers and is on his way to the Dragons, while the first casualty of Dylan Brown’s move to Newcastle has emerged.

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 on Thursday.

It’s anticipated that the former NSW Origin and Australian forward will formally sign his new one-year deal with St George-Illawarra on Friday and join his new teammates on Monday.

In return, the Dragons will release a spot in their top-30 roster by relinquishing winger Mikaele Ravalawa to South Sydney.

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

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

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 played 44-games over two seasons for the Wests Tigers, but his future at the club has been the subject of conjecture in recent weeks after it emerged coach Benji Marshall was open to letting him leave.

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.

Originally published as David Klemmer leaves Wests Tigers to join Dragons on one-year deal, Knights release Sebastian Su’a