If this isn’t Rugby League’s favourite new “bromance”, it is certainly one of the biggest.
Having represented NSW together in every game since 2016, Aaron Woods and David Klemmer have now formed an unbreakable bond that has now left them completely inseparable.
We asked who the Wests Tigers enforcer was most looking forward to playing with in the 2017 Origin series - and it didn’t take long for him to give his answer.
“David Klemmer, because he’s my best mate,” Woods said.
“He’s just such a great bloke, nothing fazes him. He’s misunderstood by the media but once you get to know the real David Klemmer, you’d fall in love with him.”
It was the first night of KARI City Origin Camp in 2013 where they first crossed paths, and it wasn’t long before the jokes and banter started to form the ultimate bromance.
“I fell in love with him [at 2013 City Camp],” Woods said.
“Brad Fittler does a really good camp. The first night we went for a feed and a couple of beers.
“I just got on with Dave that night and the champion bloke he is.”
Having similar personalities and characters traits is what Klemmer says created the tight bond, but moreso their relaxed and jovial nature that saw them click straight away.
“It’s hard to explain,” said Klemmer.
“We just clicked. Two similar blokes who are laid back and love a laugh. We got along [in camp] really well and we’re very good mates now.”
For so many years they were classed as cross-town rivals, with both Woods and Klemmer creating a formidable legacy at their respective clubs as the dominant leaders of their forward pack.
Having lined up opposite each other at club level ever since Klemmer’s NRL debut in 2013, the only time they would experience the joy of playing alongside each other would be during the Origin period.
In 2018, Woods’ departure from the Tigers will re-unite one of the game’s tightest friendships, but Klemmer insists he didn’t have much of an influence on Wood’s defection to Belmore.
“Not much at all. I always supported him either way, whatever career choice he made,” he said.
“I was always backing him, it’s just a bonus that he’s coming over the Dogs.”
What exactly they get up to together remains unknown, but that’s exactly how they like it.
“We like to people watch, have a coffee and people watch,” laughed Klemmer.
Woods, however, likes to keep it a mystery.
“We get up to a lot of things.
“I’m not going to give it away.”
Tonight, they’ll let their actions do the talking.
