David Klemmer seemed destined to be involved in finals footy this weekend, although at one point it was more likely to be with a Sherrin in hand rather than a Steeden.
The giant 20-year-old will pack down in the front row for Canterbury against Manly at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night, but if the Sydney Swans had their way he'd be playing for them instead. Klemmer excelled at all sports as a youngster, making the state squads for shot put and softball. He also made his mark taking marks playing Australian Rules at Fairfield West Public School and was soon identified as a potential future Swan.
"When I was 12 or 13 I was playing in an AFL comp at school, and when I was in the competition I got picked up by the Swans academy," Klemmer said. "I went there to train with them a couple of times and it was pretty good. At 15 I decided to play rugby league. I didn't want to be in the backs there [in Australian Rules]. It's too much running for me, I think. I used the way I tackled in rugby league in the AFL, I didn't mind it.
"I don't mind watching [the Swans] every now and then, it's all right. Buddy Franklin is probably my favourite. He's a big guy, I don't mind him."
At 120 kilograms and 200 centimetres, Klemmer is a big guy himself. That frame will be used to stampede the Sea Eagles rather than Hawks in what has been a breakout NRL season. Perhaps more surprising than his switch between the codes is his transformation from a halfback to prop.
Klemmer's rugby league coach at Westfield Sports High, Wayne Lambkin, recalls the teenager languishing in the lower grades at Parramatta with the No.7 on his back. "By about year nine he really focused on rugby league," said Lambkin, who oversees the North Sydney Bears. "He was playing halfback at a second division club in the Parramatta district. His dad was coaching him and we needed to get him out of there and playing against kids who had some ability, otherwise he wasn't going to develop. He did that and grew and grew.
"He had the skills to play halfback because he could pass and all that stuff. He's an all-round football player but his size wouldn't allow him to stay there. So we talked his dad into playing in the front row."
After struggling with injury in his rookie NRL season, Klemmer has been a mainstay of a star-studded Canterbury pack in 2014, notching 20 appearances. "It's been challenging week in and week out. Playing consistent footy has been the main goal and trying to stay in that team," Klemmer said. "I'm enjoying it."
The NSW under 20s Origin captain was literally considered the next big thing – he reportedly signed a multimillion-dollar deal with Canterbury before playing a single first-grade game – and is now delivering on that promise. He will be tested by a depleted Manly pack smarting after their capitulation to South Sydney last weekend.
"They've still got a strong forward pack with Jason King, Brenton Lawrence, Justin Horo, all those big names," he said. "It's going to be a big challenge for us and we're looking forward to it."