Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

KingRobbie said:

Wests Tigers player refuses to train over perception of unfair treatment​

The Sydney Morning Herald
Michael Chammas
December 8, 2023 — 1.23pm

New Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall faces the first test of his career as one of his highest-paid players refuses to turn up to training over a perception of unfair treatment from the club.

Winger David Nofoaluma, a former teammate of Marshall and the greatest try-scorer in the club’s history, has not been to training since last Wednesday in response to what he claims is poor treatment from the club’s football department.

Nofoaluma has also lodged a complaint with the Rugby League Players’ Association over the conduct of the club.

A meeting between Nofoaluma, the RLPA and Wests Tigers was held on Thursday night.

Sources with knowledge of the situation talking under the condition of anonymity due to the confidential nature of discussions told this masthead that Nofoaluma’s gripe with the Tigers relates to how he has been treated at training.

Nofoaluma struggled physically and with his fitness levels upon returning to pre-season training last month and was one of the team’s least impressive performers in a time trial.

Marshall and his new-look coaching staff are trying to drive a new standard at the club and haven’t shown preferential treatment to the veteran winger.

Nofoaluma reached his limit last week and complained about the communication between him and the football department, as well as the training methods that have been adopted to try and improve his fitness.

At Thursday night’s meeting between the club and the RLPA, Nofoaluma agreed that he would return to training on Monday in an attempt to resolve the matter.

Nofoaluma, the RLPA and Wests Tigers have been contacted for comment.

Nofoaluma still has two more years to run on his deal with the Tigers at about $500,000 per season but has struggled to cement his place in the team recently.

The Tigers have been trying to offload the winger to a rival club for the past two years and even lent him to the Melbourne Storm at the end of 2022 as part of a loan deal for the final few games of the season and the finals series.

Nofoaluma has scored 100 tries from 192 games for the Tigers since his debut for the joint venture club in 2013.

His services have been offered to rival clubs on numerous occasions over the past two years but the Tigers haven’t been able to agree on the amount they would contribute as part of his release.

Nofoaluma has also attracted interest from the Super League.
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We have Kepoa, Staines, Tupou, potentially Naden on the wings. No need for him and we could do with the extra money
 
crazycat said:
Man, what are we doing.
We chased OLAM, ready to do a swap with Blore. Blore who has spent most of his 3 years injured.

Now we let Olam go, Blore signs with the Storm anyway and we get next to nothing out of it.

Oh yea were "chasing" Luai and AFB after hiring 3 halves....

Klemmer must feel that were like a Manic Depressive girlfriend. "hey honey I want you so Much, come here now... NO... COME HERE NOW OR WE ARE THROUGH...Okay I am here... Nah don't want you anymore?"

Can we please have squad plans that last longer then 3 months? Our backs SUCK but hey lets chase halves and Forwards till our cap is spent.
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Centre is a big weakness. But rookie halves is not the way forward in 2025 and AFB makes a huge impact on top of an already decent forward pack. I trust Benji
 
GNR4LIFE said:
You’re talking about Origin. That’s based a lot on emotion and man management. No club took a punt on Slater to coach their club and give him a 3 year contract. They don’t know if he can coach because he served no apprenticeship. It’s unheard of.
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I agree Origin is more about Man management.
In the NRL I believe today’s Head Coach’s are only as good as the Assistant coaches they have doing most of the day to day work with the players.
I agree Benji is a risk but let’s hope it works.
 
rugbygoated said:
What a flog. We have to get rid of these overpaid dead weights bringing our club down. But his relationship with Lee is probably what's keeping him there
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Wests Tigers are negligent in not supplying a big screen at training for Noffa to look at when he trains like he does when he plays first grade.

I for one would be happy to see the $500k per annum hit to the Cap for two year than see him ever wear the Wests Tigers Jersey again. In my opinion he is an example of the culture we do not want at the club and Benji by all accounts has the players buying into his vision and culture, along with the fact we have players back early to train hard to see the club and team improve.

Trade him or as others have said shake hands with #18 for Wests Magpies as I would not want to see the Magpies suffer so he can stay unfit on the extended bench with no game time. Next contract would be nothing.
 
Sully said:
Wests Tigers are negligent in not supplying a big screen at training for Noffa to look at when he trains like he does when he plays first grade.

I for one would be happy to see the $500k per annum hit to the Cap for two year than see him ever wear the Wests Tigers Jersey again. In my opinion he is an example of the culture we do not want at the club and Benji by all accounts has the players buying into his vision and culture, along with the fact we have players back early to train hard to see the club and team improve.

Trade him or as others have said shake hands with #18 for Wests Magpies as I would not want to see the Magpies suffer so he can stay unfit on the extended bench with no game time. Next contract would be nothing.
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Would you be happy if people wrote this about you and they didn't even know you?
 
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