Dragons get much-needed prop upgrade with Klemmer pick-up

David Klemmer has today joined the St George Illawarra Dragons on a one-year deal to the end of 2025, immediately boosting Shane Flanagan’s underdone forward pack in a crucial campaign for the club.

The forward pack problem at the Dragons has only been compounded by Francis Molo refusing to train; Klemmer shaped as a perfect solution to that issue and Flanagan rushed to get the deal done.

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“I’ve said publicly we are looking to bolster our middle forward stocks so David is a great pick-up for us,” Flanagan said. “He’s a different body shape to what we’ve got in our forward pack currently and also brings some great experience at Test, Origin, and club level.”

The 31-year-old joins new signing Emre Guler and club junior Toby Couchman as starting prop options.

Klemmer’s signing comes after the Dragons shipped unwanted winger Mikaele Ravalawa off to the South Sydney Rabbitohs for the remainder of this NRL season. While he will rejoin the Red V heading into 2026, Flanno won’t have to worry about paying out the last nine months of his 2025 deal — and his exit freed up a top 30 spot for Klemmer.

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The now-new Dragon played 44 games for the Tigers before falling out of favour in Campbelltown. Before that, he made 81 appearances for the Knights. He debuted with the Bulldogs in 2013, where he played 113 games.