New South Wales coach Brad Fittler has explained his decision to snub Newcastle prop David Klemmer from the State of Origin squad.ย
Klemer, who has been a mainstay in the New South Wales team being capped 14 times including winning a Brad Fittler Medal, was left out Fitler's recent team announcement.ย
However, the Blues mentor has backed his decision.ย
โItโs incredibly tough to pick these players,โ Fitler told Wide World of Sports.ย
โKlemโs played the last couple of years. Heโs been a big part of what weโve been doing, so youโre sort of watching them.
โI think at all times weโre always putting the jersey at heart, so if we feel like thereโs people coming through... and Newcastle faded pretty much from halfway through the season.
โThereโs a lot of front-rowers still in contention at the moment playing for South Sydney, Penrith obviously, thereโs a couple from Parramatta as well.
โThe thing we have on our side right now is time, so weโll be using that.โ
Although he is currently not included in Fitler's original team, he could potentially put on the New South Wales jersey this year if he comes into the camp as an injury replacement player.
Meanwhile rugby league great Wendell Sailor voiced his opinion on the matter.ย
โIโm not sure whatโs happening there. David Klemmer has had a pretty good season,โ Sailor told Triple M radio.
โTo play the way that he does week in week out, year in year out... his metres have been good.
โIโm not sure what Freddy is looking for there, it might just be a bit of a shake-up.
โIโm sure Klem will bounce back, heโs too good of a player not to.โ
