David Klemmer writes: "I've always respected Todd…

David Klemmer writes: "I've always respected Todd Greenberg"

There are probably quite a lot of people in rugby league right now happy to see the back of Todd Greenberg. But I can honestly say I'm not one of them.

I'm just a player and a frontrower at that so I don't profess to know all the ins and outs of a complex job such as being the NRL CEO. But I know the NRL is a real big deal and there's a lot of people you've got to please and I reckon it would be impossible to make everyone happy.

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There are obviously some things that have gone down that have put him offside with officials in the game but the way it has all panned out is pretty disappointing.

You can only imagine all the pressure Todd has been under given the unprecedented nature of what's happened to the game because of the coronavirus pandemic.

All the intense scrutiny in the media about his future and whether he was going to have a job or not going forward and all the politics that goes with it, that sort of constant heat would not be easy to handle. So for him and his family, what's happened this week with him pulling the pin has probably been a relief in some respects.

I only had a brief association with Todd when we were both at the Bulldogs. Pete Mulholland [currently Canberra Raiders recruitment guru] signed me to the Bulldogs when I was 15 after seeing me at a schoolboy carnival. I was a Parramatta junior and I had a little offer from Melbourne at the time but the Dogs were my priority.

I was a mad Dogs supporter as a kid so I always wanted to play for them. I had a couple of mates who played there as well so that was another attraction for me.

So after Pete made the offer, I couldn't wait to get over there and start playing and my first year there in the Harold Matthews Under 16's, we actually won it after going through undefeated so that was the perfect start to my career at the club to be honest.

Respect: David Klemmer only had a brief association with Todd Greenberg while they were both at the Bulldogs but the Knights prop doesn't have a bad word to say about the now ex-NRL CEO, who resigned earlier this week after four years in the job. Picture: NRL Photos.

My other big memory of the juniors back then was my second year in S G Ball Under 18's in 2011 when the Knights beat us in the grand final with a field goal in extra time. Kurt Mann was playing for the Knights that day as well as Adam Clydsdale and Pat Mata'utia.

The next year, I started in the Under 20's and that's where Todd and my paths crossed for the first time and a year later when I was 20, I made my top grade debut under Des [Hasler]. I had more to do with Todd that year before he left to go to the NRL.

I've always had a lot of respect for the guy. All the dealings I've had with him, he has always been good to me and my family. He was the type of bloke who cared about you, your welfare and the welfare of your family.

I wish him all the best in whatever he does next.

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