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Newcastle Herald
Newcastle Herald
National
DAVID KLEMMER

David Klemmer: Qualifying for the finals is not enough, now the Newcastle Knights need to make it count

David Klemmer

We've qualified for the finals and I know all the boys are really happy we've been able to achieve that for our fans.

The club hasn't been to the play-offs since 2013 so it's great to finally reward our supporters, who have gone through some really tough times during that lean period.

The secret now is to make the most of the opportunity we have given ourselves. We are not going to be satisfied with just making the top eight and making up the numbers.

Whatever position we finish in, we have to make sure we are playing consistent footy leading in and hopefully, we'll have everyone healthy and ready to go because semi-final footy is different to normal footy. Once you're there, anything can happen.

It would be great to finish in the top four and get a couple of bites of the cherry but if not, we'll be giving it everything no matter where we finish. These last three games, starting with the Sydney Roosters on Saturday night, are all about building momentum and confidence going in.

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For us as a footy side a few weeks out from the finals, playing against the Roosters now is just the sort of game we need to prepare us for what's ahead. They are the back-to-back premiers and these sorts of challenges are the reason you play footy. We need to get excited about it because this is what it's all about at this time of the year.

Personally, I'm looking forward to our battle up front with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and the rest of their forward pack.

Hargreaves is up there in the top couple of props in the game. He's got heaps of experience and just his presence on the field gives his Roosters teammates confidence. He's the aggressor of their side and you know he is going to turn up and do his job of taking them forward.

He's been doing it for years and I've got a lot of respect for him. He's won three competitions and he's part of a great forward pack and that's where the big challenge will start for us on Saturday night - in the middle of the park.

Leader: Knights pack leader David Klemmer rates Roosters rival Jared Waerea-Hargreaves in the top few frontrowers in the game and can't wait for their confrontation on Saturday night at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Every time I've come up against him, it's always been a good battle. You love playing against the quality sides and the best players because of the standards they set and you know you have to at least match them if you are going to come out on top.

We're resting a few players and getting a few others back from injury which is great at this time of the year.

For me, I'm happy to keep playing. Adsy [coach Adam O'Brien] has given us some extra time off this week to rest the body a bit.

It actually felt a bit weird having four days off after the Cronulla win and not training but it was good not doing too much and spending some quality time with the family. That suits me better rather than missing a game I reckon.

The Roosters will be a great test of where we are at. I can't wait for it.

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