David Nofoaluma #164

Geo said:
NRL Confidential: David Nofoaluma’s story from being homeless and feeling worthless to NRL star.
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TIGERS star David Nofoaluma reveals the story of when he was just 17 he’d hit rock bottom.

With nowhere to go and nothing more than the clothes on his back, the flyer went from feeling worthless to an NRL star within two years.

Check out the social side of the game in NRL Confidential.

From being homeless to NRL star

Wests Tigers winger David Nofoaluma has opened up about his life and how he went from rock bottom to making his NRL debut within 24 months.

Prior to making his NRL debut, Nofoaluma was homeless.

Having never met his father and grown up with his grandparents’, the winger had split with his girlfriend who he was living with and got on a bus with nothing more than some change in his pocket and the clothes on his back.

That’s when he remembered an offer from a family friend.

“I was on a bus and I remember (family friends) saying ‘whenever you have it tough, we’re here anytime you need us’ and I was on the bus and the bus happened to go past their place,” Nofoalum told the Locker Room podcast.

“When the trains aren’t working you have to take a bus. I got on the bus and it went past their place and I still remember the day.

“I got off the bus and knocked on the door and (my family friends) were happy to see me.

“From then I lived with them. I had nothing on me. I was probably at rock-bottom. I was at the bottom and there was nothing going on in my mind. (I thought) I’m worth nothing.

“I was probably 17 years old.

“I left school earlier. I’d just finished High School.”

Fast forward two years and Nofoaluma made his debut.

The flyer debuted back in 2013 after Matt Utai failed a fitness test. He was in his last year of NYC and finished the year in the top grade.

Now he has over 50 NRL games to his name but he’s stayed humble.

“It’s always something I keep in mind,” he said of his journey. “That’s why I’m pretty rapped to be where I am.”

www.foxsports.com.au

NRL Confidential: David Nofoaluma’s story from being homeless and feeling worthless to NRL star

The bus ride that saved homeless Nofoaluma
www.foxsports.com.au www.foxsports.com.au
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Funny how history repeats, looks like Nofa has gone full circle. Time to trade the Ferrari for an Opal card and face the NRL reality of feeling worthless again.

I will never forget the glory days of Nofa running out pounding his chest blowing kisses to himself on the video screen, then proceeding to leak four tries while catching butterflies and checking his Twitter account. Who was responsible for such an astute signing I wonder?

It did seem a little pointless that Nofa was expected to train despite not showing up for a single game since he signed his five-year extension.
 
Lestronge said:
Yep , I can see how there’s irony from certain people as well. But I still don’t see the relevance, despite as a fan when we were linked to lodge I was completely against it .
My issue with Nofa is his ego is writing checks his arse can’t cash anymore . And whilst I think someone with his skill set and experience could be vital to our performance this year , the intangibles say that’s just not going to happen. And the noise around him is all but confirmation he needs to find a new challenge somewhere else .
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I agree with your entire 2nd paragraph. As it stands it would be best for the club if Nofa played elsewhere considering his contract size and form.

That in my opinion doesn't change the fact that the level of vitriol and pile on around him has been excessive, particularly considering people have no idea what has happened. It probably wasn't a fair comparison and I can accept that.
 
Wearyfan22 said:
I agree with your entire 2nd paragraph. As it stands it would be best for the club if Nofa played elsewhere considering his contract size and form.

That in my opinion doesn't change the fact that the level of vitriol and pile on around him has been excessive, particularly considering people have no idea what has happened. It probably wasn't a fair comparison and I can accept that.
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Yep . Mate honestly , much like Brooks before him , the idea of this club turning itself around without him in it just seems like the universe isn’t fair . But then my rational brain kicks in , and I realise that players like him and Brooks as talented as they are , we probably the reason we haven’t had success . And that seems like a personal attack , but it’s not really . Those guys were driving the culture , and , as with basically our whole leadership structure , from board to ceo to gm to coach to team captains to the leadership group , a vast majority of that people who were in those positions have been let go . Which says to me that the culture was rotten .
This generation just failed . It’s as simple as that im afraid . And if Moses and Brooks never win anything with the eels and manly then that would be confirmation of this . Even Tedesco went to a side that could be pound for pound one of the greatest sides on paper ever put together . He secured his legacy , but yea I dunno if he does that anywhere else . Chuck in Sharon as well . Once again his failure of leadership , lead to the capitulation of that generation . Stronger leaders keep the core together even at clubs that are a shit fight off the field eg. Manly during the Stewart brothers era . Unfortunately age hasn’t come with maturity .
Just to add to this , Moses and Brooks were considered at the time the most sure thing halves to come through since the johns boys . Aaron woods was going to lead his country one day apparently . Tedesco , who granted the raps were there , was a little bit more low key with the outside noise . Nofa was also considered an absolute freak and it wasn’t a case of would he make it but how far would he go . Matt groat was another one . And then he got smashed and that was that .
Fotueiaka and his tragedy , Felise and Tatola . That whole generation just well , lost its way for one reason or another .
 
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Lestronge said:
Yep . Mate honestly , much like Brooks before him , the idea of this club turning itself around without him in it just seems like the universe isn’t fair . But then my rational brain kicks in , and I realise that players like him and Brooks as talented as they are , we probably the reason we haven’t had success . And that seems like a personal attack , but it’s not really . Those guys were driving the culture , and , as with basically our whole leadership structure , from board to ceo to gm to coach to team captains to the leadership group , a vast majority of that people who were in those positions have been let go . Which says to me that the culture was rotten .
This generation just failed . It’s as simple as that im afraid . And if Moses and Brooks never win anything with the eels and manly then that would be confirmation of this . Even Tedesco went to a side that could be pound for pound one of the greatest sides on paper ever put together . He secured his legacy , but yea I dunno if he does that anywhere else . Chuck in Sharon as well . Once again his failure of leadership , lead to the capitulation of that generation . Stronger leaders keep the core together even at clubs that are a shit fight off the field eg. Manly during the Stewart brothers era . Unfortunately age hasn’t come with maturity .
Just to add to this , Moses and Brooks were considered at the time the most sure thing halves to come through since the johns boys . Aaron woods was going to lead his country one day apparently . Tedesco , who granted the raps were there , was a little bit more low key with the outside noise . Nofa was also considered an absolute freak and it wasn’t a case of would he make it but how far would he go . Matt groat was another one . And then he got smashed and that was that .
Fotueiaka and his tragedy , Felise and Tatola . That whole generation just well , lost its way for one reason or another .
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Fair mate. Top to bottom it's been a mess and no fan would argue that we havent been an abject failure the last decade. I'd argue the wrong players were given roles in leadership time and time again. Brooks, Nofa, our disastrous 5 captains, Woods etc. Who knows how guys like Brooks and Nofa would have gone at clubs with sounds structures and existing strong leaders? You could argue they have had at worst decent first grade careers despite being part of this club.

I do think we (supporters) need a face and a target for the frustrations though. Nof is the flavour of the month at the moment and while he is part of the problem, I'd argue that his influence has not been what people are making it out to be. I think Benji is playing a pretty classic new coach card of making an example of an established player to rock the boat. I'm all for it, i just wish the hyperbole was dialed down a few notches. But I understand this is a football forum, people are passionate and they are free to rubbish whoever they please.
 
Wearyfan22 said:
Fair mate. Top to bottom it's been a mess and no fan would argue that we havent been an abject failure the last decade. I'd argue the wrong players were given roles in leadership time and time again. Brooks, Nofa, our disastrous 5 captains, Woods etc. Who knows how guys like Brooks and Nofa would have gone at clubs with sounds structures and existing strong leaders? You could argue they have had at worst decent first grade careers despite being part of this club.

I do think we (supporters) need a face and a target for the frustrations though. Nof is the flavour of the month at the moment and while he is part of the problem, I'd argue that his influence has not been what people are making it out to be. I think Benji is playing a pretty classic new coach card of making an example of an established player to rock the boat. I'm all for it, i just wish the hyperbole was dialed down a few notches. But I understand this is a football forum, people are passionate and they are free to rubbish whoever they please.
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💯 agree with most of what you said . I don’t agree with influence on the team .
I’ve been in teams (not sports) where everyone thought the physical training was a joke , and OTT . So lots of eye rolls , and half hearted exercising and it was all sunshine’s and rainbows . But everyone was soft . And the culture just wasn’t right .
And I’ve also been in teams where everyone bought in , and every session was a competition . Didn’t matter what it was , if you brought up the rear , you felt shame . And honestly the morale was way higher because of it . And it’s lightning in a bottle . Because the 2 teams for me that I reference of this , both were for 6 -12 months roughly , before people went thier separate ways . And I’ve never been in teams since that had that drive and culture . And buy in . And it was the sum of all parts that made them that way . If there was one guy rolling his eyes , it’s all over . That seems extreme . But it’s actually not .
 
innsaneink said:
No mate not embarrassing you gotta celebrate the wins when you can... Seasons bad enough with only 4Ws...to.not celebrate them would be even worse
They didn't carry on like Penrith did as if they won a comp every time they scored... But it's a psychological mentaliry thing... Yiu do things better if yiu enjoy it
It's just what both teams are used to
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You can sing the team song but in a different fashion, like Melbourne would. Not dancing around in your undies beating up on an esky, just my take.
 
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