Maintain the rage: Graham tells Klemmer

Canterbury captain James Graham insists David Klemmer should continue his uber-aggressive approach to rugby league, even if it means he risks further suspension.

Klemmer was outed for one match at the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night for a hit on Melbourne’s Kenny Bromwich.

It follows his three-game ban last year for contrary conduct in the ‘Bad Friday’ clash with South Sydney.

But Graham has urged Klemmer to continue to walk a fine line.

“I think David has certain attributes that makes him the player he is,” Graham said.

“He definitely doesn’t want to be missing games, and the club and everyone involved doesn’t want him missing games, but David plays the way he plays.

“He’s a NSW and Australian representative and in doing what he does it can have some implications and sometimes it leads to suspension. But I guess do you want to change that, and change the way he is? I’d probably say no.”

However Graham said Klemmer could make some adjustments following his indiscretions.

“Obviously he can learn from it and tweak it a little bit but I think sometimes when you play on the edge like him it’s just going to happen,” he said.

“I think it’s just Dave playing to his strengths, he is very aggressive and very in your face. He can maybe be a little bit smarter with it but you wouldn’t want to change fundamentally what David Klemmer is all about.”

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