You got me good Klemmer reveals Fifita conversation before condition deteriorated

A shattered David Klemmer has revealed he felt “sick in the stomach” after learning former NSW and Australia teammate Andrew Fifita had been placed in an induced coma following a seemingly innocuous collision between the pair on Sunday.

Speaking for the first time since the incident that is believed to have hospitalised the Sharks forward after Sunday’s game in Redcliffe, the Newcastle prop told the Herald that he and Fifita had a conversation about the collision after the game.

At the time Klemmer did not suspect anything untoward; neither did the Cronulla players and staff. It wasn’t until Fifita returned to the sheds that the swelling from his fractured larynx caused his airways to narrow.

“We had a bit of a chat after the game and he mucked around and said something like, ‘You got me good, Klem’,” the Knights prop told the Herald.

“I didn’t know anything was seriously wrong. I don’t even think he knew at the time. He seemed fine. You wouldn’t have known. Then later there was a bit of talk in the sheds that something wasn’t right.

David Klemmer, right, has shown great concern for the welfare of his former Origin teammate after a collision between the pair saw Andrew Fifita hospitalised.Credit:AAP and NRL Photos

“I tried to check up on him but the doors were closed from the tunnel to the field where he was. I knew he was in good hands because ‘Cat’ [NRL medical operations manager Craig Catterick] was with him and we’d all toured together before. But when I found out he was in a coma, I felt sick in the stomach. I was in shock, I couldn’t believe it.”

According to sources with knowledge of the events that unfolded, Fifita could have died if he didn’t get to hospital when he did on Sunday night.

Sharks trainers and teammates noticed his voice had changed when he spoke and shouted encouragement from the sidelines in the second half. But it was only after full-time that the situation become grave as Fifita struggled to breathe, prompting panic inside the Cronulla dressing room.

He was stabilised with the assistance of quick-thinking medical officers, who realised his airway was closing rapidly and he was struggling to breathe, before they took him to Royal Brisbane Hospital for emergency treatment.

David Klemmer and Andrew Fifita have played several games together for NSW and Australia.Credit:NRL Photos

The 32-year-old was then placed in an induced coma upon arrival at hospital, where doctors inserted a tube to assist Fifita’s breathing and provided him with medication to reduce the swelling around his airway.

He has since undergone surgery, with the club releasing a statement confirming all had gone well with the procedure.

No one has been able to confirm the exact point of the game in which the injury occurred. It is suspected it happened when Klemmer ran at Fifita early in the second half. Klemmer has since been cleared of any foul play by the NRL’s match review committee.

“I didn’t know if it was because of me or what happened,” Klemmer said.

“I still don’t even know how it really happened. But he’s got kids and a wife like me, so I can’t imagine what they’ve all been going through.

“Collisions like that happen hundreds of times in a game, but when you hear things like that it’s scary and reminds you just how quickly things could get taken from you. I feel bad if anything I have done has contributed to him being in hospital, but I would never intentionally do anything to hurt him. It’s horrible.”

Andrew Fifita makes a tackle on Newcastle’s David Klemmer, which is believed to be the incident that caused the injury.Credit:Nine

The horrifying injury has cast a big cloud over Fifita’s rugby league career. He still has a year to run on his deal with the Sharks. Former Storm and Cowboys player Rory Kostjasyn was forced into retirement after suffering a similar injury in 2016.

Klemmer and his wife, Chloe, have since reached out to Fifita and his wife, Nikki, during the week to send their best wishes.

"We messaged to check up on him and pass on our best wishes," Klemmer said.

“I don’t know when he will see it, but I am so happy to hear that surgery went well and he will be OK. Andrew’s a fighter. He’s shown that throughout his career. If anyone will get through this and come out the other side it’s him.”

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Michael Chammas is a sports reporter with The Sydney Morning Herald

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