Klemmer signs with Knights, Napa joins Bulldogs
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Newcastle have secured the biggest recruit of the 2019 NRL season, signing NSW and Australian prop David Klemmer on a five-year deal, while Dylan Napa has been released from his Roosters contract to replace Klemmer at the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs granted Klemmer an immediate release from the final two years of his deal, allowing the prop to take up a deal with the Knights worth around $4.3 million.
As reported by NRL.com on October 28, Klemmer fronted Bulldogs officials with his wife, Chloe, after returning from international duty, seeking an immediate release from his contract at Canterbury.
While the Dogs wanted to hold on to Klemmer, they didn't want to keep a player who didn't want to be at the club and were trying to secure a replacement before agreeing to release the 24-year-old international.
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On Monday afternoon the Roosters confirmed Napa had been released from the final year of his contract to join the Bulldogs on a three-year deal.
"Signing someone of Dylan's toughness and ability is a major coup for the club," Bulldogs coach Dean Pay said.
"We really feel that we have got a high calibre footballer who will be a great addition to both our pack and our playing group as a whole."
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Klemmer had been disgruntled for some time over the structure of his deal at the Bulldogs, including the arrangement around third-party payments.
However, the Kangaroos prop has also been dealing with some personal problems and was desperate to start a new life with his wife and three sons away from Sydney and he believes Newcastle is the ideal location for his family.
David Klemmer's 2018 season highlights
It is understood his annual Knights salary is close to what he stood to earn in the next two seasons at the Bulldogs.
Klemmer isn't due back to training until mid-December given he represented Australia at the end of the year.
The Bulldogs have had several big-name players leave their club mid-contract in the past 12 months, with Klemmer joining the likes of James Graham, Aaron Woods and Moses Mbye.
