Newcastle coach Nathan Brown has forecast a “two-pronged” improvement with the arrival of representative prop David Klemmer, still only 25, at the rising NRL club.
The Knights finished 11th last year, showing vast progress after three straight wooden spoons.
Australian and NSW enforcer Klemmer’s arrival – and a healthy Mitchell Pearce – should lift their ceiling and the performance of players already at the club.
“We feel his best years are ahead of him; stable off field, no trouble there and he likes to win and compete, so he ticks lots of boxes.”
Players returned to training on Tuesday after the Christmas break, with a streamlined Klemmer reporting in underweight and needing to bulk up.
Incumbent co-captain Pearce admitted his surprise that Klemmer was still just 25.
