West Tigers propsman David Klemmer opens the confrontation with Newcastle Knights playmaker Jackson Hastings

“Obviously it blew up and people have their own views. At the end of the day he won, he should have just walked away when Tommy said he didn’t want to talk to him, he just accepted.

“[Chuckling] Maybe I should have just left it to them. How are you?”

“Should I just watch and let her do it? Am I just watching them throw it down? Everyone wants that.”

David Klemmer on meeting Jackson Hastings

After the game, Hastings said he did not want to stir up the situation.

“It was hot stuff,” Hastings said. “I went to apologize. I didn’t realize in game that I collected it up. I went to knock out the ball to stop a try. I was reported and apologized on the field.

“I was just trying to do the right thing at the end of the game by apologizing, in the heat of the moment he was still angry which I really appreciate. No one wants to get hit in the head and they ruled him out of the game too so I’m remorseful there was no intention. I can understand why he would be frustrated.”

Loading

The Tigers lost their first two games despite starting as favorites against the Titans and Knights at their home stadium, the Leichhardt Oval. They are 17th on the ladder after finishing the wooden spoon last year.

Klemmer said incidents like his encounter with Hastings are amplified when a team loses.

“I’ve been in the game for a long time, whenever something like this happens, it blows up,” said Klemmer.

“It’s unfortunate, we just have to win football games. We’re starting to win football games and play a lot better [and the headlines disappear].”

Stream the NRL Premiership 2023 live for free 9Now.

Sports news, scores and expert commentary. Sign up for our sports newsletter.