The sad extent of Klemmer's family dramas revealed
David Klemmer’s rumoured move from the Canterbury Bulldogs to the Newcastle Knights has taken a sad twist, with his father revealing the full extent of the prop’s family dramas.
Klemmer is reportedly set to sign for the Knights on a multimillion dollar deal from 2019 – but since the prop confirmed his request for a release, reports about why have taken off.
A report that surfaced recently suggested Klemmer’s move was not primarily based on money, but rather family-related problems fuelling the move.
Klemmer’s father has since hit out at those reports to set the record straight, suggesting sport journalist Danny Weidler’s report didn’t reflect the situation at hand.
“We are being made out to be the bad guys in all of this and we are not the bad guys,” Helmut wrote to Weidler.
“It’s not our fault that David is living the life he is wanting to live and if he wants to leave the Bulldogs it’s not because of us.
“I want the innuendo to stop. We have not been asking David for money or anything like that.
“The truth is that we have not spoken to him for years.
“Every time that we try and make peace with him there is a disconnection.
“We did the right thing by him and were there for him as he was growing up but in recent years he has made a decision not to talk with us and he has his own life with his family and we have been kicked to the kerb.”
While the 24-year-old is yet to speak openly about his playing future, and the future of his family, his dad also took the opportunity to deny Klemmer had a difficult upbringing.
“Most of, if not all, his angst has been brought on by his own actions,” he added.
Klemmer could unlock Knights’ live wires
Securing a forward of David Klemmer’s ilk could be the key to Newcastle unlocking the best of Kalyn Ponga and the rest of the Knights’ spine, according to coach Nathan Brown.
The attempt to bring Klemmer to Newcastle is continuing, after the Test prop met with Canterbury NRL officials to discuss a release.
“Front row is just an area we would all agree … we need to get better at,” head coach Nathan Brown said.
“With some players in key positions, with Mitchell (Pearce), Kalyn and Connor (Watson), we feel like we’ve got some guys there who if they get on the front foot regularly enough they can cause the opposition some problems.
“But to be in those positions consistently is something we need to do. And those big front rowers have an impact on your kicking game and other parts of your game as well.
“We certainly had some conversations with a number of players who missed out on that position and if another player comes up of that ilk we’ll certainly be looking at it.”
In Klemmer they would land one of the most powerful ball-runners in the NRL, having averaged 174 metres per game in the Bulldogs’ pack last season.
with AAP.
