Poor season took its toll on Bulldogs, says Klemmer
RUGBY LEAGUE: David Klemmer says the look on his Canterbury teammates’ faces at the end of the season was all he needed to realise just how drained the playing group was.
As much as they had tried to shut out speculation regarding their futures because of salary cap over-spending and uncertainty regarding coach Des Hasler’s future, it was obvious players were impacted.
Klemmer said the constant innuendo had plagued the squad this year.
“Mentally we said as a group it wouldn’t affect us but when you saw when the season finished just how blokes were mentally, how things were, it does take its toll,” he said.
“It’s a scary business. People come straight out of high school with nothing to lean on. Even though you can earn a good wage not everyone can earn that wage.
“It was the biggest rollercoaster I’ve had in my career. We were trying to win games, we were trying too hard. We were always in the fight. We couldn’t finish games off.”
The decision to axe Hasler and replace him with Dean Pay will give the Bulldogs a “different vibe”, says Klemmer.
Klemmer said he had yet to speak with his former coach while holidays and Kangaroos selection meant he had not yet caught up with Pay.
“I spoke to Des after the season finished but a couple of days later (he was sacked),” Klemmer said. “He is having time to himself and reflecting on what needs to be done and having some family time. “The club has shaken it up. It’s going to be a different vibe. It’s been hard watching semi-final football and the grand final. It was frustrating.
“It was the first time in five years I’ve missed out on the finals. It makes you want to work harder.”
The firebrand prop has joined the rest of the Australian squad in Fiji ahead of their pre-World Cup hit-out against Fiji and PNG tomorrow.
Klemmer has three goals to achieve in his rugby league career. “Win a premiership, win an Origin series and win a World Cup,” he said.