Klemmer was on Wednesday rushed down the M1 from Newcastle to Bondi to join his NSW teammates in camp after Tariq Sims was on Tuesday suspended at the NRL judiciary for a high shot on Michael Morgan.

Despite being arguably the best front-rower in the game, Klemmer was controversially left out of Fittler's 17 before ultimately being drafted in.

"I wouldn't say I was angry, it's a part of sport," Klemmer said. "I was a bit heartbroken, but so you should. There would have been something wrong with me if I wasn't upset."

Klemmer rode a rollercoaster of emotions over the past 48 hours after receiving a phone call from Fittler to tell him he would be sticking with the same Blues side which won game two.

Newcastle star Klemmer missed the Perth game because of a broken wrist and could have opted for season-ending surgery but pushed through and made a successful return in the Knights' NRL win over Brisbane on Saturday.

After Sims was ruled out late on Tuesday night, Klemmer was already asleep before receiving a second phone call from Fittler to tell him he was back in.

"I fell asleep in my son's bed last night, my wife came in an woke me up and I fell back asleep, I was that buggered," Klemmer said.

"Freddy [Fittler] was ringing me."

"I missed that first call and then he rang me again and he said 'I need you to get down here tomorrow morning'.

"The little fella was a bit filthy I wasn't in the side.

"When I told him I was in before he went to school he was pretty happy."

Fittler will now make a call whether to start Klemmer or his Knights teammate Daniel Saifiti.

Klemmer said he was devastated for Sims and spoke with the St George Illawarra forward him after arriving at the team hotel.

"I just asked him how is he, how's he feeling? He'd be gutted, I'm pretty close to him as well," Klemmer said.

"I just apologised to him, I said I'm sorry for what happened to you and he said "rip in and enjoy the moment'."