Papalii a fan of Klem’s power

DAVID Klemmer has won just three of nine Origin matches and is yet to taste series success, but the Blues enforcer has a surprise fan in maroon.

Queensland foe Josh Papalii has dismissed suggestions the towering Bulldog should have been axed by NSW calling the aggressive forward “born for Origin”.

Klemmer has been one of the first picked for NSW in recent years but was on the verge of being dropped by incoming coach Brad Fittler – a legacy of the Blues woeful recent record.

Klemmer won an eleventhhour reprieve at the expense of Titans star Ryan James and Papalii is wary of the man he is likely to clash with in the middle of the field.

“I think when it comes to Origin you’ve got to pick the players that can bring that aggressive footy,” Papalii said.

“I think Klemmer’s one of them. He was born for Origin and I wasn’t surprised when he got selected.”

While the pair are likely to come together, Papalii won’t be seeking Klemmer out specifically.

“When I go into the Origin arena I just play, it doesn’t matter who’s in the Blue jersey, I just try and do my job for the Maroons and that’s all I can do,” he said.

At his best playing weight since 2016, Papalii revealed he had overhauled his diet and training regimen since the World Cup in a bid to regain his best form.

Like Klemmer, Papalii battled early in the year, being dropped to the NSW Cup by coach Ricky Stuart as Canberra struggled to notch a win.

“I’ve had a rough start to my season getting dropped to NSW Cup wasn’t easy but I think it was needed and I’m just happy to be here,” he said.

“Our team wasn’t going too well at the time and I knew someone had to go back and Sticky (Stuart) thought it was me.

“I copped it on the chin and just went back and tried to find some form and I’m happy that I’ve come back and played some footy.”

While several NRL players shone for minnow nations at the World Cup, Papalii admitted he had treated his stint for Samoa as “a bit of a holiday”.