Sydney teenager David Klemmer is yet to play an NRL game but he has already made a big impression on one of the game’s best props.
Bulldogs management gave the 19-year-old the perfect motivation to fire up in his NRL debut against Scott’s Cowboys at Gosford on Saturday by re-signing him on Friday until 2016.
It’s a terrific confidence boost for last season’s NYC Player of the Year who’ll make his NRL debut off the bench under a lot of scrutiny simply because of his massive 199cm and 120kg frame.
It won’t be the first time Scott has laid eyes on Klemmer.
“He’s pretty big. I presented him with his junior Roos jumper up here and he stood about two foot above me and about 10 kilograms heavier,” said Scott.
“He’s obviously impressed everyone during the pre-season like a lot of our young guys have and he’ll be looking to make his mark on the NRL quickly.”
The Bulldogs, already missing their dynamic strike player Ben Barba, will take on the Cowboys powerful pack without Kiwi forwards Sam Kasiano (122kg), Frank Pritchard (112kg) and Englishman James Graham (106kg) leading to claims last year’s grand finalists, even with the addition of Manly’s Tony Williams, won’t be as physical.
“They’ve got some good guys coming like young giant Klemmer so I don’t think they will be lacking much size,” said Scott whose front-row partner James Tamou made his Origin and Test debuts last season.
The Cowboys are looking forward to the game after a hard pre-season and Scott’s hoping they perform a lot better than in the corresponding round of 2012 when they delivered one of the club’s worst performance in losing 18-0 at home to Gold Coast.
But they have to overcome a run of five straight losses to the Bulldogs.
“We’ve spoken about how important a good start is for us, I think four out of our first five games are away,” said the Cowboys co-captain who’ll break through the 150-game barrier this season.
“If we can get away to a good start and get a few wins it sets the year up very well for us.”
Cowboys officials scoffed at rumours during the week that all was not well with fullback Matt Bowen who will celebrate his 31st birthday on Saturday night in coach Neil Henry’s 100th game for the club.
The rumours surfaced after the Cowboys took utility Clint Greenshields in the travelling squad.
“Mango is fine and will definitely play,” said an amused official.
