Newcastle prop David Klemmer’s future at the club is clouded after he was issued with a show cause notice relating to “on-field disciplinary matters” in Sunday’s loss to Canterbury at McDonald Jones Stadium.
The Knights were reportedly close to sealing a deal to send him to Parramatta for the rest of the season but they were unable to strike an agreement with the Eels.
Klemmer is alleged to have abused a trainer after being told to come off late in the game, according to a News Corp report, and refused to leave the playing arena.
The Knights have dropped him for this Sunday’s trip to Campbelltown to face the Wests Tigers and according to the club statement, “no further correspondence will be entered into until the show cause hearing process has been completed”.
One of the highest-paid players at the club who is under contract until the end of next season, the 28-year-old former international has fallen off the representative radar in recent years at Origin level.
Knights coach Adam O’Brien said the possibility of a late mid-season transfer for Klemmer to join Parramatta was not broached with him.
David Klemmer. (Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)
O’Brien has conceded he may have come across as an “egomaniac” after a “poorly-articulated” press conference following Sunday’s NRL loss to Canterbury.
After the Knights slumped to a 24-10 loss for a home record of 2-8 this season, O’Brien spoke of his track record as an assistant at the Sydney Roosters and Melbourne.
“Previous to getting this job here I was involved in four grand finals,” he said.
The 44-year-old, who took the Knights to the finals in 2020 and 2021, is currently coaching a side running 14th and on Tuesday moved to clarify his comments.
“I’d like that (press conference) back,” he said. “It looks like I’m an egomaniac but that wasn’t the message.
“I was trying to talk to the supporter who sits on the hill who must be wondering if they practice defence. Do they do tackle technique at training? Are they fit and tough?”
(Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)
O’Brien said his side had similar intensity to the Storm and the Roosters at training .
“I didn’t want to come across as taking the accolades and success of those clubs. Trent (Robinson) and Craig (Bellamy) built their clubs, I just worked there,” he said.
“We’re not there yet and my number one job on this earth right now is to get his team to perform on game day.”
O’Brien believes he has the full backing of the Newcastle hierarchy but understands why his future would come under the microscope.
“I live in reality and I’m not stupid,” he said. “It’s a results-driven business.”
He described the Knights’ two finals finishes under him as “band-aids on a gunshot wound”.
The Knights coach said he had made mistakes during the club’s pre-season training and said Newcastle’s turnover of players in the spine positions was cause for their poor run of form.
“We missed about four weeks of pre-season (due to COVID-19) but at the end of the day that stops with me,” he said.
“I need to make sure that we’re driving a really hard pre-season – that’s the bit that I regret the most – and I’ve got to make sure I get this one right.”
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Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
O'Brien makes Ricky look like a genius - and that is a tall order. He battles to string three words together. You wonder if he is sipping on a flask of whisky during games. Might explain his press conferences. I'm amazed he scored assistant coaching jobs at the Storm and Roosters and now the head gig at the Knights. He must have something as he got the Knights into the finals last year - but this year they are in free fall. Ponga and Gagai look a pale shadow of their Origin performances. Klemmer tries his guts out each week and I'd say his reaction to the trainer is just frustration. The bloke is sick of losing. The rest of them look as they know they are going to lose - and so does the coach. The place stinks.
Albo
Roar Rookie
But the Knights can't win a game, despite his good personal stats ? Maybe the halves are calling for the ball, and Klem is ignoring them like the trainer ? Who knows ? Something is fishy there.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Klemmer is great SuperCoach player. Scores heaps of points there. But not sure he has contributed too much to the Knights winning record this year ? And therein lies the possible problem the Club has with him. Lots of cash outlay for little return ( in competition points) ?
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
The resemblance is astounding. Apparently the shortest movie pitch in history went: Devito. Schwarzenegger. TWINS!
matth
Roar Guru
Translation: "We have paid overs for a forward and would like to spend that money elsewhere, so we will look for a breach rather than honour his contract."
matth
Roar Guru
I think we are pretty right for forwards thanks.
matth
Roar Guru
Cold happen to anyone late in the day at the races.
Cat Brown
Guest
I've never heard of a forward being glad to be taken off the field. Klemmer just needs to shave his head and his beard and start eating raw meat again
Tez
Roar Rookie
Please Dragons make a good offer for Klemmer for 2023 ..... dump a couple of non performers like Woods and Burgess.
Tony
Roar Guru
Addo-Carr is the new Klemmer
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
' I come across as an egomaniac'. Yep and you always have.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
He could be handy, but I'd imagine the remainder of their budget is for spine players.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Yes I'd be surprised if this doesn't have a backstory. Pure speculation on my part, but it may not be a coincidence we also got AOB's "I know what I'm doing" speech.
Don
Roar Rookie
He’d be a good pick up for the Dolphins. But the Dragons or Tigers won’t be able to contain themselves if he comes into the market and he’ll get another big contract. The perfect clubs for him are the Storm or Roosters. But seriously, if we are to believe they are blaming Klemmer for over calling the plays to get the ball, and getting in the way of the attack, WTF is the dummy half doing? Why aren’t the half and 5/8 screaming? How do they get this far into the season with an attack that’s been primarily based around “give it to Kalyn” but now Klemmer is a bigger part of the reason they’re shite? Gallen used to do the same thing at Cronulla and you had week hookers like John Morris and De Gois etc who’d just give him the ball whenever he was there. He’s played fewer minutes than most Knights forwards this season. In that time he’s got the most total runs, most total run metres, best average run metres for the forwards, most offloads for the forwards, the fewest errors in the team for players over 6 games, and only 5 penalties against him. He’s been one of the the few good and consistent players in the team. FFS, unless the bloke is an ultra kn0b then any reasonable coach can do something good with him.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Unless supercoach Brad Arthur doesn’t snag another underperformer… his version of moneyball is wasteofmoneyball
Nick
Roar Guru
Fittler just dislikes Klemmer though. Klemmer was summarily dumped from NSW when Fittler became the coach.
Muzz
Guest
Klemmer to the Dolphins.
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
The cracks are starting to appear and once that happens someone has to go . Klemmer hasn't been that bad this year and according to Fittler he's only 3rd best prop at the club . O' Brien skating on thin ice despite all assurances from management. Still don't think relationship between the old guard and new owners is ad rosy as everyone would think.
Phil
Roar Rookie
A lot of merit in what you say Greg but I can't help thinking there is more to it than Klemmer rebuking the trainer. Some things should be kept in-house until a resolution is reached and this could be one of them. This type of event can't do team morale any good and Newcastle need all the morale they can get.
Greg
Roar Pro
Why are they making this public knowledge? On one hand Klemmer has done the wrong thing. But on the other his actions shows he cares about the result and wants to personallymake a difference. Not sure id be standing down a player like that, particularly when there are so few in the Knights team that seem to want to own the result. Surely a private discussion is the better way to address the matter.