If the Tigers miss out on Moses or Brown, and it’s quite possible they will, where do they look for another 6 or 7?
- @avocadoontoast Just saw Fox and the Astonisher are reporting the Dolphins offering $1million a season (maybe more, didn’t read article, just headline) for Brown. If that’s the case who do you prioritise if you are the Eels?
the Eels are definitely prioritising Brown.
Klemmer reveals why he quit Newcastle and his plans to take Tigers back to the top
He was the Knights’ players’ player and had a year to run on his contract, so why did David Klemmer quit Newcastle for a fresh start at Wests Tigers?
Dean Ritchie
High profile Wests Tigers recruit David Klemmer has revealed why he quit Newcastle as he declared: “I still have the fire in my belly.”
Klemmer, 28, told of his plans to finally take Wests Tigers back to the top echelon of rugby league in an expansive interview with The Daily Telegraph at the club’s new Centre of Excellence.
“These guys here at Wests Tigers will get the best out of me,” said Klemmer, who described his introduction to his new club as an “eye-opener.”
“We have to make sure we don’t put in any shitty performances,” Klemmer declared.
Klemmer arrived from Newcastle last week as part of a player-swap with Jackson Hastings.
“I don’t think they wanted to extend me so I thought coming here was a big opportunity for me to come down,” Klemmer said.
THE FIRE BURNS
Klemmer told of his fiery passion towards his football this coming season at Wests Tigers.
“I still have the fire in my belly. Competitive… I’m a competitive person. I’m up early and want to try and be the first person here at training,” Klemmer said.
“I want to keep playing. I have made a promise to myself – once it starts to stop being enjoyable then I will give it away.
“But I still feel like an 18-year-old kid. I get nervous – I still love it. And that’s what I mean – fire in the tummy. I love coming here, competing and being pushed to be better.
“I want to compete on all drills. This move has been good for me, especially given this club has such a young squad.
“I’m 28 years old so a lot of the players here are a lot younger. These guys will get the best out of me. They are pushing me and I’m enjoying it.
“I will turn up every week and give my all. After the year they had last season, the only way is up. I just love playing footy, mate.”\
BEST IS TO COME
At 28, many believe a front-rower is still coming into his prime.
Klemmer will bring 194 games of NRL experience, having also played 14 Origin games for NSW and 19 Tests.
“I don’t want to come here and stuff around,” Klemmer said.
“I want to play consistent, good footy. If I can help some of these guys play first grade then I want to be part of that.
“I can’t wait to get out there and start mixing it and playing with some of the talented young kids we have here. I can see something here.
“In the early days I was a bit wild and had to learn to manage it. It (his aggression) has been tucked away there for the last year but the ‘big fella’ can still come out.
“The club just wants me to play my own game, be the player I want to be and play my best footy.”
WHY TIGERS
Klemmer arrives at a club which hasn’t played finals football since 2011 and finished last this year with just four wins.
The bookies have already written off their chances in 2023.
“It wasn’t an issue coming here. I was in a similar boat last year with the Knights. We finished somewhere similar,” Klemmer said.
“Wests Tigers beat Parramatta last season, they beat some of the top sides so they obviously have some sort of talent here.
“The club has had a clean out with some staff in coaching and high performance. The club has their own approach and how they’re doing things around training.
“I just want to make sure our performances are consistent. We don’t want to be going up one day and down the next. We have to make sure we don’t put in any s**ty performances.”
The loss of Hastings will sting but Wests Tigers have compiled a fiery and aggressive pack which includes Klemmer, Api Koroisau, Isaiah Papali’i and possibly John Bateman.
“They are quality players and it would be great to have them around,” Klemmer said. “It will be good to get some chemistry and build with this footy side because it is shaping up to be pretty good.”
SHEENS & BENJI
Veteran Tim Sheens will coach Wests Tigers for the next two years before club legend Benji Marshall assumes the top job for the following three seasons.
“When we are around footy, they are switched on. They breed that,” he said.
“I was looking and exploring my options around my future and those two were appealing. I sat down with ‘Sheensy’ and, after one meeting, I thought they were going to be hard to beat. He has a different approach and different way, different style.
“Sheensy is a footy man, he’s a rugby league man and when he talks, you listen. When you train, he’s hard but he also wants you to enjoy it off the field as well. The way he treats everyone, even the young guys.
“Benji as well. He was another big reason; how he sees the game and how he conducts himself around training and how he talks to the players. He will be a great coach, you can just see it.
“Once footy stops, they want to get to know you and have a muck around. Those two bouncing off each other has been unreal for me. I thought the change would be good. It’s only been a week but you can definitely see some of the changes in and around the change rooms, and on the footy field.”
Klemmer left Newcastle despite claiming this year’s player’s player award and having a year remaining on his contract. He contested 18 games and ran for an average of 155 metres a game.
“Mate, I would have loved to stay – I loved the place but that’s how footy works. Some things happen like this,” Klemmer said.
“I don’t think they wanted to extend me so I thought coming here was a big opportunity for me to come down.
“It’s different for me coming from Newcastle, a different approach, different coaching. It’s a breath of fresh air. Video, skills on the field, it’s serious.
“Obviously picking my family up again and moving down to Sydney is a bit tough and I thought it would be exciting. Being here the last week or so, it has been eye-opening and seeing how happy everyone is around here has been pretty good.”
ZURICH CENTRE
Klemmer was glowing in praise for Wests Tigers’ new 84 million dollar Centre of Excellence and community sport precinct, the Zurich Centre.
The Daily Telegraph was given a tour of the remarkable facility which includes sleep and rehab facilities, gym, aquatic recovery pools, sauna and steam rooms, games room, open floor plan, kitchen and dedicated sports science areas.
There is even a barber’s chair with photos on the wall of former long-haired Tigers and Magpies greats Kerry Hemsley and Mick Liubinskas hanging on the wall.
“It is unbelievable, it’s huge. I’ve heard people say it might be hard to get people here to train in the off-season and do extras,” Klemmer said. “They can’t get them out now. It’s very appealing to the boys to get in here and do their training.
“These facilities are world-class. That’s why they want to come here and rip in with their cardio, run on the nice playing field, go for a swim, have an ice bath, jump in the sauna. Who wouldn’t you want to use it? It’s awesome, mate.”
BROOKS BASHING
Few in the NRL play under such pressure and scrutiny than Wests Tigers halfback Luke Brooks. Watching from afar, Klemmer has always been stunned at the strain Brooks plays under.
“When you think of the Tigers, he is one of the highest paid. He has been in a struggling side so obviously they (critics) have to go after him,” Klemmer said.
“When you’re on that (pay) wicket, you’re open to it. He has done his best with what he’s had. He is a quality player. When he’s on, he’s on.
“Luke has had some injuries as well which he would admit to himself. But I’m that pumped for him. Every time I watch the Tigers I just want him to do well.
“I have known him for a long time through mutual friends. If we can build a side here and win some footy games, and make him play to his potential, it’s going to be exciting.
“Api (Koroisau, recruit) will be very good for him and help further his game even more, or just let him play his own game.”
HR HAYDEN
Klemmer and veteran Newcastle trainer Hayden Knowles engaged in an on-field blow up in August. Both are no longer at the club. Klemmer was temporarily stood down by the club and forced to front the club’s human resources department.
“It was just unfortunate, I reckon. It was just how things panned out and the situation got to HR and they then had to go through the procedures,” Klemmer said.
“It was very uncomfortable going to HR - not just for myself but for my family and kids.
“It got dragged out through the media which was very disappointing. I had to go through a lot of steps and protocols.
“Me and Knowlesy have known each other for a long time. It was just an unfortunate incident. It is what it is and given the year we had as a footy club, it wasn’t ideal.”
ORIGIN SNUB
Despite a strong season at Newcastle, Klemmer was overlooked by NSW coach Brad Fittler this year.
“That’s the way it goes,” Klemmer said. “I got injured at the start of the year and came back rarin’ to go but probably knew I wasn’t going to make it.
“You’ve got to be up in those top eight sides and going really well to get noticed. That’s who they lean towards.
“I’d love to play (Origin) again. That’s why you play footy. You want to be in and around that. But as long as the Tigers are happy with me and I’m making some sort of progression, that’s a tick for me.”
TIGER CUBS
Klemmer offered up three rising stars he has predicted will star for Wests Tigers.
“Young Stef (Stefano Utoikamanu) had an injury-riddled season but you see glimpses of what he can do. He is going to be a very good player if he keeps developing over the next couple of years. He’s only a young bloke but I think he’s got it,” he said.
“And young ‘Juzza’ (Justin Matamua, who debuted this year against Parramatta), he was just included in the top 30. He’s been pretty good. And Fonua Pole, he is very impressive.”
“There are some talented kids here. This is a young squad, but geez, very skilful.”
KLEM’S LEGACY
Will he be remembered as Bulldog, Knight or Tiger?
“We’ll have to wait and see after this stint,” he said. “I really enjoyed my time at the Knights and I love the Bulldogs as well. As a kid, I was a Bulldogs supporter.
“But right now, I just want to train hard, have a good off-season and pre-season and obviously have a better year than the club did last season.”
When David Klemmer thinks back to one of his proudest footballing moments, his thoughts turn to Tim Sheens.
Sheens was the Australian coach back in 2014 when he sprung a selection bombshell by handing Klemmer a green-and-gold jersey after the side lost the opening match of the Four Nations tournament. Klemmer, a 20-year-old tearaway, had made just 27 NRL appearances at the time.
“He didn’t say anything until the end of the week, then he told me I was playing, and I was over the moon,” Klemmer recalled.
“He was good for me, being so young. He’s still got the same coaching style. He knows rugby league inside out. He can adapt to how the game is now - there’s a few things that have changed, but he’s still a good coach.”
Now Klemmer and Sheens have been reunited at Wests Tigers. Klemmer continues an impressive recruitment drive that has already netted Apisai Koroisau, Isaiah Papali’i and Charlie Staines. There are hopes that English international John Bateman could soon join them.
Klemmer made the switch to Concord despite having a year left on his Knights contract, as part of a swap deal with playmaker Jackson Hastings.
“I’ve got a lot of footy left in me and the fire still burns, so I thought it would be a great opportunity to come here and play for the Tigers.”
New Wests Tigers recruit David Klemmer
“I went back to Newcastle to see if there was anything there for the next couple of years after next year,” he said. “There wasn’t anything and they thought about maybe me and Hastings swapping.
“I’ve got a lot of footy left in me and the fire still burns, so I thought it would be a great opportunity to come here and play for the Tigers. They are definitely looking on the up.”
Klemmer met with Sheens to discuss the move at the Zurich Centre, the club’s new $78 million centre of excellence. By the time the former Bulldog walked out, he was ready to make Concord his home.
“After that first meeting I was pretty much over the line,” he said. “Just how he was talking about things, talking about footy. He’s just a rugby league coach and I still want to get better.
“I’ve played a long time and want to get better in all aspects on and off the field. He’s there and Benji [Marshall] has got his own way he wants to coach and help out. It’s very exciting.”
Klemmer was barely out of his teens when he first crossed paths with Sheens. Now he arrives at the joint-venture outfit as a senior figure keen to help the emerging Tigers forwards.
“There are a lot of young guys coming through, a lot of middles [forwards] with potential,” he said.
“I want to play with them and try to help them out in any way on or off the field. I want to get out there with them, train hard and try to improve them. I love that.”
The Tigers are without a captain after James Tamou shifted back to North Queensland. Perhaps Klemmer could take on the role?
“I’ve only been here a couple of days,” he replied. “You’d have to ask that at the end of pre-season, I’m just getting to know everyone.
“I want to make sure I know everyone in that footy squad, whether they are 17 to however old they are. I want to know them on and off the field. I’m a bit nervous, but I’m loving it.”
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
@helmesy nice to have a positive piece of media for a change. Exciting to hear how the CoE is energising everyone!
I hate to admit it but I am getting very bullish 2024 if we get Moses. If we do I hope douhie will stay and transition into an elite centre and be part of this success for the club. The final piece will be a top tier fullback. Hopefully we can show a lot or progress on the field in 2023 and that convinces a sualli type generational fullback to sign on.
1.
2. Noffa
3. douhie
4. naden
5. tupou
6. brooks
7. moses
8. Klemmer
9. api
10. Joffa
11 papi
12. bateman
13. Matamua/talau
14. Rua/simpkins
15. steph
16. pole
17. Twal/blore
1. Tedesco?
Top 8 2023
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
I registered on this site a while ago but had problems posting. So, I think this is mu first post.
Inspired by the excitement over the Sheens/Marshall approach to recruitment and retention.
Its clear to me that Sheens has learnt the lesson of having a small pack and has deliberately sought out a big pack this time around.
The Klemmer addition is great. A world class prop still in the prime of his game at 28 years. With Pole and Stef, we are going to have a great middle for the next few years.
Sheens focus on juniors feels like back to the future. There is real excitement about what he is doing. I think we had forgotten what is what like to have a coach who brings juniors through.
Sheens eye for young talent is second to none and the promotion of Justin M for this year is very exciting. He looks like a real Sheens player. Ball playing middle forward but with size.
What became clear to me in recent years is how poor Madge was at recruitment and retention. The Peachey recruitment was the final straw for me. How anyone thought he would add value to our side I never knew. I reckon the Titans must have thought "We got our Alan Bond moment" here when we said we wanted him.
Two things have really impressed me with Sheens.
Firstly, he didnt buy into the hype over Hastings. Jackson played the media and the fans very well. But, when you actually looked at his performances on the field, he did very little. His passing game is poor, he is slow and he has a fairly mediocre kicking game. The media focused on his "touches" as if that meant he was a star when, in reality, it just meant he caught the balled and passed on his inside to a forward standing still. A pass directly from acting half would have been far better in the modern game. My prediction is that within 12 months fans are going to be very happy with the decision to cut Jackson loose.
Secondly, he has not worried about retaining AD at all costs. He recognises that AD can play a role and, if we can keep him, great. But, he is not a superstar and you would be crazy to pay superstar prices for him. A lot of fans seems to think we should keep AD for his heart along. Sheens is clearly not worried about being unpopular in the short term.
This is in stark contrast the approach we have taken in the past - for example, re-signing Nofo and, to a lesser degree, paying big money to retain Brooks.
We are finally making calm, mature decisions when it comes to recruitment and retention. The days of emotional signings/re-signings are over.
It feels good to finally have a coach back who knows how to build a successful team.
Good times ahead.
I registered on this site a while ago but had problems posting. So, I think this is mu first post.
Inspired by the excitement over the Sheens/Marshall approach to recruitment and retention.
Its clear to me that Sheens has learnt the lesson of having a small pack and has deliberately sought out a big pack this time around.
The Klemmer addition is great. A world class prop still in the prime of his game at 28 years. With Pole and Stef, we are going to have a great middle for the next few years.
Sheens focus on juniors feels like back to the future. There is real excitement about what he is doing. I think we had forgotten what is what like to have a coach who brings juniors through.
Sheens eye for young talent is second to none and the promotion of Justin M for this year is very exciting. He looks like a real Sheens player. Ball playing middle forward but with size.
What became clear to me in recent years is how poor Madge was at recruitment and retention. The Peachey recruitment was the final straw for me. How anyone thought he would add value to our side I never knew. I reckon the Titans must have thought "We got our Alan Bond moment" here when we said we wanted him.
Two things have really impressed me with Sheens.
Firstly, he didnt buy into the hype over Hastings. Jackson played the media and the fans very well. But, when you actually looked at his performances on the field, he did very little. His passing game is poor, he is slow and he has a fairly mediocre kicking game. The media focused on his "touches" as if that meant he was a star when, in reality, it just meant he caught the balled and passed on his inside to a forward standing still. A pass directly from acting half would have been far better in the modern game. My prediction is that within 12 months fans are going to be very happy with the decision to cut Jackson loose.
Secondly, he has not worried about retaining AD at all costs. He recognises that AD can play a role and, if we can keep him, great. But, he is not a superstar and you would be crazy to pay superstar prices for him. A lot of fans seems to think we should keep AD for his heart along. Sheens is clearly not worried about being unpopular in the short term.
This is in stark contrast the approach we have taken in the past - for example, re-signing Nofo and, to a lesser degree, paying big money to retain Brooks.
We are finally making calm, mature decisions when it comes to recruitment and retention. The days of emotional signings/re-signings are over.
It feels good to finally have a coach back who knows how to build a successful team.
Good times ahead.
Well said, and welcome 👍
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
@southerntiger Great first post and welcome to the forum. I think you're bang on about Hastings. Solid player at best but certainly wasn't the answer for us. I think he lacked the pace and creativity for a Sheens team.
The last few years i've been captain negative regarding the Wests Tigers but i'm excited where we're headed. Sheens/Benji have been a breath of fresh air and i am really looking forward to next season.
I registered on this site a while ago but had problems posting. So, I think this is mu first post.
Inspired by the excitement over the Sheens/Marshall approach to recruitment and retention.
Its clear to me that Sheens has learnt the lesson of having a small pack and has deliberately sought out a big pack this time around.
The Klemmer addition is great. A world class prop still in the prime of his game at 28 years. With Pole and Stef, we are going to have a great middle for the next few years.
Sheens focus on juniors feels like back to the future. There is real excitement about what he is doing. I think we had forgotten what is what like to have a coach who brings juniors through.
Sheens eye for young talent is second to none and the promotion of Justin M for this year is very exciting. He looks like a real Sheens player. Ball playing middle forward but with size.
What became clear to me in recent years is how poor Madge was at recruitment and retention. The Peachey recruitment was the final straw for me. How anyone thought he would add value to our side I never knew. I reckon the Titans must have thought "We got our Alan Bond moment" here when we said we wanted him.
Two things have really impressed me with Sheens.
Firstly, he didnt buy into the hype over Hastings. Jackson played the media and the fans very well. But, when you actually looked at his performances on the field, he did very little. His passing game is poor, he is slow and he has a fairly mediocre kicking game. The media focused on his "touches" as if that meant he was a star when, in reality, it just meant he caught the balled and passed on his inside to a forward standing still. A pass directly from acting half would have been far better in the modern game. My prediction is that within 12 months fans are going to be very happy with the decision to cut Jackson loose.
Secondly, he has not worried about retaining AD at all costs. He recognises that AD can play a role and, if we can keep him, great. But, he is not a superstar and you would be crazy to pay superstar prices for him. A lot of fans seems to think we should keep AD for his heart along. Sheens is clearly not worried about being unpopular in the short term.
This is in stark contrast the approach we have taken in the past - for example, re-signing Nofo and, to a lesser degree, paying big money to retain Brooks.
We are finally making calm, mature decisions when it comes to recruitment and retention. The days of emotional signings/re-signings are over.
It feels good to finally have a coach back who knows how to build a successful team.
Good times ahead.
Nice first post.
I think his coaching is an upgrade on Madge but I'm still a bit hesitant to buy into the Sheens decision making around the roster. We have 2 years with him and I feel the success or failure of his return will be measured by Luke Brooks performance in 2023. At any time in the past 12 months, we could have let Brooks go to Newcastle. Sheens has kept him here despite the fact it would have freed up $1mill + worth of salary cap.
Brooks was absolutely terrible this season. If he plays like that again in 2023 then we finish in the bottom few for sure.
The flaw in Sheens decision to let Hastings walk is that he has not re-signed Brooks. Sheens said publicly he wants to spread Brooks cap hit out in a new contract but he hasnt been able to execute on it. As of today we have a halfback on probably $600k+ more than he should be getting for 2023. I can't help but think if we'd have let Brooks go last summer we'd have been able to secure another decent forward or two for 2022.
To your point about Hastings, you downplay his ability to read the game. Few players can do this. I think he will go well at Newcastle.
Every fan can speculate on what ifs and maybes for 23 (which is part of the fun of being a fan) but I reckon we'll all know if Sheens has pulled the right strings by Rd 2 when Knights play WT. A huge game given all the player movement across both clubs
I registered on this site a while ago but had problems posting. So, I think this is mu first post.
Inspired by the excitement over the Sheens/Marshall approach to recruitment and retention.
Its clear to me that Sheens has learnt the lesson of having a small pack and has deliberately sought out a big pack this time around.
The Klemmer addition is great. A world class prop still in the prime of his game at 28 years. With Pole and Stef, we are going to have a great middle for the next few years.
Sheens focus on juniors feels like back to the future. There is real excitement about what he is doing. I think we had forgotten what is what like to have a coach who brings juniors through.
Sheens eye for young talent is second to none and the promotion of Justin M for this year is very exciting. He looks like a real Sheens player. Ball playing middle forward but with size.
What became clear to me in recent years is how poor Madge was at recruitment and retention. The Peachey recruitment was the final straw for me. How anyone thought he would add value to our side I never knew. I reckon the Titans must have thought "We got our Alan Bond moment" here when we said we wanted him.
Two things have really impressed me with Sheens.
Firstly, he didnt buy into the hype over Hastings. Jackson played the media and the fans very well. But, when you actually looked at his performances on the field, he did very little. His passing game is poor, he is slow and he has a fairly mediocre kicking game. The media focused on his "touches" as if that meant he was a star when, in reality, it just meant he caught the balled and passed on his inside to a forward standing still. A pass directly from acting half would have been far better in the modern game. My prediction is that within 12 months fans are going to be very happy with the decision to cut Jackson loose.
Secondly, he has not worried about retaining AD at all costs. He recognises that AD can play a role and, if we can keep him, great. But, he is not a superstar and you would be crazy to pay superstar prices for him. A lot of fans seems to think we should keep AD for his heart along. Sheens is clearly not worried about being unpopular in the short term.
This is in stark contrast the approach we have taken in the past - for example, re-signing Nofo and, to a lesser degree, paying big money to retain Brooks.
We are finally making calm, mature decisions when it comes to recruitment and retention. The days of emotional signings/re-signings are over.
It feels good to finally have a coach back who knows how to build a successful team.
Good times ahead.
The flaw in Sheens decision to let Hastings walk is that he has not re-signed Brooks. Sheens said publicly he wants to spread Brooks cap hit out in a new contract but he hasnt been able to execute on it. As of today we have a halfback on probably $600k+ more than he should be getting for 2023. I can't help but think if we'd have let Brooks go last summer we'd have been able to secure another decent forward or two for 2022.
To your point about Hastings, you downplay his ability to read the game. Few players can do this. I think he will go well at Newcastle.
I dont see that as a flaw. Sheens' talk on Brooks is circumspect - "He is under contract". My guess is Sheens backs himself to get Brooks back to his best and, if not, he will move him on. I suspect thats also why Moses is a target.
I have seen nothing from Hastings last year to say he can read a game. If he can read it, he certainly doesnt have the ability to execute on it.
Hastings was a bright spot because he put in a lot of effort when many players were just going through the motions. We also looked a lot better with him on the field because he was forever shouting and directing our other players around because no one knew their role and what to do next, we had no plan. I think that is more an indictment of Maguires coaching if anything. He has a good footy IQ but physically he lagged all the top halves. I think he will go ok at Newcastle as long as he can stay on the right side of Ponga (and ponga a dad) but I am very happy that Benji is aiming higher. I don’t think you win a comp with Hastings as first receiver.
Hastings was involved in all of the very few good performances we put in last year and showed himself to be a very good game manager.
I find it interesting that he doesn't qualify for the "playing behind a terrible forward pack" defence which seems to only apply to Luke Brooks.
Personally I was looking forward to seeing Hastings playing behind the pack we've assembled for next year and I am disappointed he was released as I believe he would have shown his qualities.
There's more to being a half back than being able to run fast.
