David Klemmer, a forward for the Tigers, is set to play against his former club, the Knights, in round two of the NRL Premiership.
Despite being named the Knights’ player of the year in 2022, Klemmer was released from the club and joined the Tigers.
When asked about facing his former team, Klemmer replied that there was no bad blood between them, and that he saw his move to the Tigers as a good opportunity to start fresh.
Klemmer was grateful for his time with the Knights, who provided him and his family an escape from the NRL bubble in Sydney and the chance to work on his leadership skills.
Both the Tigers and Knights were quick to point out that Klemmer’s move south and Jackson Hastings’ shift to the Hunter was not a swap deal; the Tigers wanted Klemmer first and then acted on Hastings later when Newcastle showed interest.
Although Klemmer occasionally texts his former teammates, he is focused on his new team and enjoying his time with the Tigers. He will also work on his passing game to fit in with the team’s attacking philosophy.
Klemmer has no doubt about the talents of former teammate Kalyn Ponga, who is Newcastle’s biggest threat. He wants Ponga to play his best but as an opposition player, they have to try to stop him.
Playing at Leichhardt as a Tiger is something Klemmer is looking forward to, as he has always wanted to be a part of it. He describes the Tigers’ supporter base as outstanding and was thrilled to run out to the roar of the crowd.
Klemmer had previously played at Leichhardt during the COVID round in 2022, but it was a strange experience with only cardboard cutouts of fans in the stands.
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