Klemmer admits to coach talk toll

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 group was.

As much as they had tried to shut out speculation regarding their futures because of salary cap over-spending and uncertainty regarding Des Hasler’s future, it was obvious players were impacted.

Klemmer said he had no doubt 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 and nothing to lean on.

“Even though you can earn a good wage not everyone can earn that wage. It takes its toll on the playing group.

“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 Dogs a “different vibe” according to Klemmer.