David Klemmer

Late in the year, Klemmer asked for a release from the final two years of his Bulldogs contract. He was granted the release in November, signing a 5-year contract with the Newcastle Knights starting in 2019.

On 7 October 2019, Klemmer was named in the Australian side for the upcoming Oceania Cup fixtures.

In 2018, Klemmer was selected to play for New South Wales in the 2018 State of Origin series which The Blues emerged victorious winning 2-1. In game 3, Klemmer was placed on report for an attempted trip on Queensland player Ben Hunt. Klemmer was later fined $1350 but escaped suspension.

In February 2017, Klemmer was selected in the Bulldogs 2017 NRL Auckland Nines squad. On 5 May 2017, Klemmer played for Australia in the 2017 ANZAC Test against New Zealand where he started at prop in the 30-12 win at Canberra Stadium. In June 2017, it was rumoured that Klemmer requested a release from his contract from the Bulldogs due to a financial dispute stemming from his decision to split with long-time manager David Riolo. Klemmer later commented saying that he never wanted to leave Canterbury. For the 2017 State of Origin series, Klemmer played in all 3 matches off the interchange bench in the Blues 2-1 series loss. In the lead-up to Game 3, Klemmer was set to start at prop by coach Laurie Daley and with Andrew Fifita to come off the bench but rumours that Fifita blew up at Daley about the switch and he later reversed that decision and the Blues would later go on to lose the match 22-6 and again was defeated in another series at Suncorp Stadium. On 11 September 2017, Klemmer was named as the winner of the Brad Fittler Medal for being the Blues Best Player of the series. Klemmer was the second player to receive the award by playing all 3 matches of the interchange bench. Klemmer finished the 2017 NRL season with him playing in 21 matches and scoring 1 try for the Bulldogs. On 3 October 2017, Klemmer was selected in the 24-man Australia Kangaroos 2017 Rugby League World Cup squad. Klemmer played in all 6 matches of the tournament, including starting at prop in the World Cup Final match against England in the hard fought 6-0 victory at Suncorp Stadium.

On 22 May 2016, Klemmer extended his contract with the Bulldogs until the end of the 2020 season. Klemmer played in all 3 matches for New South Wales off the interchange bench in the Blues 2-1 series loss in the 2016 State of Origin series. After Game 2, Klemmer got into some trouble after the Blues 26-16 loss to Queensland after he punched a wall in frustration in the toilets off the Suncorp Stadium changing rooms. Klemmer finished the 2016 NRL season with him playing in 22 matches and scoring a try for the Bulldogs. On 24 September 2016, Klemmer played for Prime Minister's XIII against Papua New Guinea, playing off the interchange bench in the 58-0 win at Port Moresby.

On 3 October 2016, Klemmer was selected in the 24-man Australian Kangaroos squad for the 2016 Four Nations. Klemmer played in all 5 matches of the tournament, including playing off the interchange bench in the Kangaroos 34-8 Four Nations final win against New Zealand at Anfield.

In round 5 of the 2015 NRL season, in the Grand Final re-match against the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Klemmer was sin binned after crowding in on referee Gerard Sutton alongside Bulldogs captain James Graham and yelling "You're off your f***ing face". The Bulldogs were leading 17-16 at the time, but lost 17-18 at ANZ Stadium. After full-time was blown, some members of the Bulldogs' fan base pelted referee Gerard Sutton and match officials with plastic bottles, causing an investigation to find out and ban the misbehaving members from attending rugby league matches for life. Klemmer was later hit with a 3-week suspension for contrary conduct. He returned in round 9, against the North Queensland Cowboys, in the Bulldogs' 23-16 loss at 1300SMILES Stadium. On 3 May, Klemmer played for New South Wales City, playing at prop in the 34-22 loss to New South Wales Country at Wagga Wagga. On 27 May, he was selected to make his State of Origin debut for New South Wales in game 1 against Queensland. He played of the interchange bench in the Blues' 11-10 loss at ANZ Stadium. In game 2 of the 2015 State of Origin series, he again made headlines after a heated exchange with the oldest member of the Queensland team, Corey Parker. Parker told Klemmer (the youngest member of the New South Wales team) to "show some respect" and Klemmer replied "get f***d you c**t". Klemmer also played in game 3, off the interchange bench, in the Blues' 52-6 record loss at Suncorp Stadium. He finished off the 2015 season having played in 21 matches and scoring a try for the Bulldogs.

In round 4 against the Melbourne Storm, Klemmer scored his first NRL career try in the Bulldogs 40-12 win at nib Stadium in Perth. On 26 April 2014, Klemmer was selected to play for City Origin for the City vs. Country match at Apex Oval in Dubbo. Klemmer played off the interchange bench in the 26-all draw on 4 May 2014. On 5 October 2014, in the Bulldogs 2014 NRL Grand Final against the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Klemmer played off the bench in the Bulldogs 6-30 loss. Klemmer finished the Bulldogs 2014 season with him playing 23 matches and scoring a try. Klemmer made his international debut for Australia, playing against England at AAMI Park in Australia’s 16-12 win.

On 5 March 2013, Klemmer re-signed with the Bulldogs on a 3-year contract. In round 1 of the 2013 NRL season, Klemmer made his NRL debut for the Bulldogs against the North Queensland Cowboys off the interchange bench in the Bulldogs 12-24 loss at Central Coast Stadium. In round 3, against the Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park, Klemmer made headlines after he was at the end of receiving a high flying karate style kick from Storm’s fullback Billy Slater to the head in the Bulldogs 18-22 loss.

On 20 April 2013, Klemmer was named captain of the New South Wales team in the under 20s State of Origin match, leading the team to a 36-12 victory over Queensland at Penrith Stadium. Klemmer debut season ended early after he sustained a knee injury. Klemmer finished his debut year with him playing 4 matches for the Bulldogs.

He played for the Bulldogs' NYC team in 2011 and 2012, scoring 6 tries in 28 games. In 2012, Klemmer was named on the interchange bench for New South Wales in the inaugural under 20s State of Origin match at Penrith Stadium. At the end of 2012, Klemmer was named NYC Player of the Year and also named at starting prop in the 2012 NYC Team of the Year.

At 15 years of age, Klemmer signed with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. In 2010 and 2011, Klemmer played for the Australian Schoolboys. In 2011, Klemmer also played for the New South Wales under 18s team.

David Klemmer (born 22 December 1993), also known by the nickname of "Klemanator", is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop and lock for the Newcastle Knights in the NRL and Australia international level.