David Nofoaluma laments about his move to Salford Red Devils after a difficult departure from Wests Tigers.
David Nofoaluma has finally spoken about his move to the Salford Red Devils after a tumultuous departure from the Wests Tigers.
Despite his status as a Wests veteran, having scored 100 tries in 192 appearances for the club, the 30-year-old was loaned out to the Melbourne Storm at the end of the 2022 NRL season. He was then reportedly informed by new Tigers head coach Benji Marshall that he wouldn’t be playing first-grade for the club again.
This led to Nofoaluma seeking advice from the Rugby League Players’ Association (RLPA) after taking issue with the alleged comments. He then refused to train with the Tigers, which was considered a breach of contract. After two weeks of discussions between himself, Wests, and the RLPA, he arrived late to training, leading to a second breach and his eventual release. Reports suggested that he was “untraceable” while recovering from a stomach issue at home.
Now, Nofoaluma has explained his decision to move to Salford, saying, “I think it was a good move for me to get out of Sydney and also experience what it’s like overseas. I think there’s something exciting about it. I kind of got a taste of that when I left Sydney to go down to Melbourne of what it’s like to have a fresh start there. So I know what it’s like to go into a new environment. It’ll be life-changing.”
Despite the challenges, Nofoaluma never doubted he would find a new club. “I knew I had the ability. I knew for myself that my head wasn’t there at the Tigers. And with everything going on, I couldn’t reach my potential and be motivated to be there. They obviously didn’t want me there, and I made it clear to them I didn’t want to be there. So, it was best for both of us to part ways.”
Nofoaluma has not ruled out a return to the NRL. “I’m at the age (30) now that, you know, I’m open to everything. But at this present moment, all I’m focused on is going to Salford and putting my best foot forward for them. I’m open to coming back or even staying in England if things work out.”
He has also addressed claims of being lazy in training, stating, “There were a lot of outside people saying I was lazy. But you’re not lazy if you’ve played 12 years of NRL. But that talk had to come from internally because the only people that had seen me training were the people inside the club. After getting the wooden spoon last year, I took the off-season to clear my head. I understand you’re an athlete you have to train. It took a toll on me, and I wanted to get away from footy.”
Nofoaluma emphasized that he was not lazy but was struggling mentally, saying, “It affected me mentally. I felt relieved when it was decided to part ways.”
