CANTERBURY will not be able to compete with the powerhouse NRL teams if they fail to replace David Klemmer with an equivalent front-rower.

That’s the grim picture painted by former Bulldogs captain Michael Ennis as Klemmer appears unlikely to be at the club in 2019.

Bulldogs chief executive Andrew Hill confirmed on Tuesday that he had met with Klemmer to discuss his future at the club where he has two years remaining on his contract.

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It’s understood Klemmer has been given permission to negotiate with rival clubs after he reportedly requested a release over pay complaints.

Newcastle look to be his likely destination should he be released, with the Knights set to pay him upwards of $1 million per season.

“There’s no way the Bulldogs can confidently head into the season looking to do any damage without a headline front-rower,” Ennis told foxsports.com.au.

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“They won’t compete with the top sides like Melbourne, South Sydney, Cronulla’s forward pack, you even look at Newcastle’s with possible Klemmer, Tim Glasby and the Saifiti brothers.

“You look at Brisbane’s young forward pack that’s charging. The way Jordan McLean and Matt Scott finished the season for North Queensland with Jason Taumalolo.”

Klemmer was the Bulldogs’ player of the year in 2018 and was one of their shining lights in what was otherwise a disappointing season for the club where they finished in 12th on the ladder, just two wins above wooden-spooners Parramatta.

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David Klemmer has been a key player for the Bulldogs. Picture: Alix Sweeney Source: News Corp Australia

Ennis was “bewildered” that the club have found themselves in this position and believed the tough times would only continue without an appropriate replacement for Klemmer.

“Aidan Tolman will work his back side off for you, so too will Josh Jackson, but these guys can’t play 80 minutes every week. You need depth in your front row and you need a really good rotation,” he said.

“If the Bulldogs’ salary cap is still a mess, they’re going to have to come up with some mastermind recruitment plan to be able to find a way around it.

“Their backrowers are really positive in Jackson, Corey Harawira-Naera, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Adam Elliott and Rhyse Martin.”

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Ennis explained a Klemmer exit would also have consequences for the club’s playmakers.

Exciting talent Lachlan Lewis was another bright spark for the Bulldogs this year, while Kieran Foran will be out to prove his worth following toe surgery which robbed him of half the season.

“You just can’t get Foran to do what they’ve asked him to come to the club and do if he doesn’t have a dominant forward pack to play behind, it’ll be tough going for him,” Ennis said.

“Lewis in his second season is going to have a real target on him. He was terrific when he came in a really provided some enthusiasm and energy to a side that was pretty lacklustre in attack.

“They finished off the year really well behind a forward pack that was led by Klemmer and Jackson with some really nice touches from Lewis. But now people know who Lewis is, and in your second year you need to keep reinventing yourself, but it’s hard to do when you’re on the back foot as a half. He won’t have the time if they don’t have the dominance in their forward pack.”

David Klemmer is the star prop Newcastle have been looking for. Source: Getty Images

As for Newcastle, Ennis believed they’d become a genuine title threat should they snare Klemmer.

“I’ve got massive raps on Mitch Barnett at lock and Lachlan Fitzgibbon has emerged as a real strike weapon,” he said.

“Kalyn Ponga will be another year in and Mitchell Pearce will be really hungry for a premiership now that he’s coming to an important time in his career when halfbacks play their best football.

“They’ve got a really good side up there and Nathan Brown has publicly spoken about wanting a couple of big guys up front. They wanted a worker and they wanted some power, and they get that in Klemmer and Glasby.

“It’s a really important — and a good time — for Newcastle.”