Klemmer, the towering former Canterbury front-rower, signed a five-year deal with Newcastle on Monday and the coup sparked immediate excitement amongst the Novocastrian faithful.

Within 24 hours of announcing Klemmer’s signing, the Knights had sold 100 season tickets, taking their overall tally for 2019 to more than 11,250.

Newcastle finished last season with their highest-ever membership count, 18,017, and had an average home crowd of 18,974.

Wests Group/Knights chief executive Phil Gardner was confident about surpassing both figures next season and even challenging the club’s all-time best crowd average of 22,018, set in 1990.

“We’re heading into record territory,” Gardner told the Newcastle Herald.

“All our numbers are telling us we’ll break every record next season … we’re looking to sign more than 20,000 season-ticket holders next season, for the first time. 

“If we could get to 25,000, that means the stadium is basically sold out.

“That’s obviously the Holy Grail for us. That’s where we want to get to – a sold-out stadium and a waiting list for tickets.

“But for next season, to start with, we’re hoping to get to 20,000, or more.

“If we can get some early wins, I think you’ll see a real rush.” 

Some have queried Newcastle’s huge outlay for Klemmer – reportedly $4.3 million over five years – but Gardner was confident the 24-year-old enforcer would prove worth every cent, on and off the field.

“We haven’t paid ‘overs’ for David,” Gardner said.

“He’s a current Test front-row forward, a player every club in the game would like to have, and we paid his market value.

“That’s what he’s worth.

Klemmer is Newcastle’s marquee import for 2019 but far from their only high-profile signing.

Other additions include Melbourne prop Tim Glasby, a premiership winner and Queensland Origin representative, Jesse Ramien and Edrick Lee from Cronulla, ex-Warriors James Gavet and Mason Lino, and Hymel Hunt (South Sydney).

Add them to a squad that already includes star playmakers Mitchell Pearce and Kalyn Ponga and many are predicting the Knights, who finished 11th last season, can feature in the play-offs for the first time since 2013.

Gardner said fans were entitled to expect a top-eight finish next season.

“There’s no excuses now,” Gardner said.

“It’s about putting performances on the field.

“That’s the mindset in the club now. It’s not just about competing, or trying, we want to see results.

“Our fans have been very loyal and patient, and it’s time to repay their faith. We owe them some wins.”

Gardner was confident a breakthrough season in 2019 would be just the start.

“We’re already planning our roster for seasons ’21, ’22 and ’23,” he said.

“Which kids are we going to develop to be first-graders for those seasons, and what milestones do they need to reach along the way?

“We’re taking a long-term mindset, which is something this club hasn’t done often enough over the years.

“The successful clubs aren’t just looking at the season ahead, but where they need to be in five years time.”