NSW prop David Klemmer denies there were any hard feelings after he was initially snubbed by Blues coach Brad Fittler for the State of Origin decider.
Klemmer was on Wednesday rushed down the M1 from Newcastle to Bondi to join his NSW team-mates in camp after Tariq Sims was on Tuesday suspended at the NRL judiciary for a high shot on Michael Morgan.
Despite being arguably the best front-rower in the game, Klemmer was controversially left out of Fittler’s 17 before ultimately being drafted in.
“I wouldn’t say I was angry, it’s a part of sport,” Klemmer said.
“I was a bit heartbroken, but so you should. There would have been something wrong with me if I wasn’t upset.”
Klemmer rode a rollercoaster of emotions over the past 48 hours after receiving a phone call from Fittler to tell him he would be sticking with the same Blues side which won Game 2.
Newcastle star Klemmer missed the Perth game because of a broken wrist and could have opted for season-ending surgery but pushed through and made a successful return in the Knights’ NRL win over Brisbane on Saturday.
Klemmer says he may require surgery at the end of the year if his wrist continues to bother him.
After Sims was ruled out late on Tuesday night, Klemmer was already asleep before receiving a second phone call from Fittler to tell him he was back in.
“I fell asleep in my son’s bed last night, my wife came in an woke me up and I fell back asleep, I was that buggered,” Klemmer said.
“Freddy (Fittler) was ringing me, I missed that first call and then he rang me again and he said ‘I need you to get down here tomorrow morning’.
“The little fella was a bit filthy I wasn’t in the side.
“When I told him I was in before he went to school he was pretty happy.”
Fittler will now make a call whether to start Klemmer or his Knights team-mate Daniel Saifiti.
Klemmer said he was devastated for Sims and spoke with the St George Illawarra forward him after arriving at the team hotel.
“I just asked him how is he, how’s he feeling? He’d be gutted, I’m pretty close to him as well,” Klemmer said.
“I just apologised to him, I said I’m sorry for what happened to you and he said ‘rip in and enjoy the moment’.”
Farkurnell
Guest
Barry maybe there's a bit of reverse pysch going on here.The coach wanted a fired up Klem,now he got one.I see it as a Win/Win scenario.
Kurt S
Roar Pro
As a northerner, I was really hoping Sims got off the other night. Wasn't to be. I can't imagining too many teams having a preference to play against Klemmer rather then Sims. That is no disrespect to Sims but Klemmer can change the whole tone of match with a few runs and a bit of really strong defense.
Mushi
Roar Guru
Napa wasn't great pre injury
watda
Guest
If there is really a "rift" I doubt Klemmer would be in the team. Nothing too see here folk's.
BustlingBillDunn
Roar Rookie
Let's give Freddy the benefit of the doubt and put it down to he's one game back from a broken wrist so won't have full match fitness or full strength in his wrist. How did Napa go playing through the same injury in Game 2? Bad that's how.
Robert F
Guest
Last year Gould mentioned how Klemmer was only lacking a passing game but was getting better at it. He then got picked for game 1. Now Matty Johns was saying that Danny Beauderus mentioned they didn't want to many metre eaters but more ball players. My question is then why not dropped Daniel Saifiti and put Klemmer back in? I understand he won in game 2 but when you compare stats Klemmer has shown to be the superior prop out of all the props for the blues over the past few years minus ball playing ability. Shouldn't Klemmer hold the metre eater position and the rest built around him?
Nat
Roar Guru
How could he not feel a little dejected? However Klemmer is more professional than Fittler. He will play well in spite of the coach not because of him.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I’d be more interested in hearing from Fittler. Klemmer almost not picked for G1 last year, reduced minutes all series. Poorly used in G1 this year and then dropped for G3 before a lucky call-up. I’m not suggesting there’s anything personal but there something about Klemmer’s game that Freddy doesn’t rate, it would be interesting to know what that was.