innsaneink
Well-known member
Hopefuy we can get rid of him and free up some cap space... I also hope he's in a good headspace
David Nofoaluma #164
- Thread starter Geo
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Roar_Power
Well-known member
Disgruntled Tiger ‘unlikely to play for club again’ as sanction sees unfair treatment feud boil over
Tigers winger David Nofoaluma has reportedly been sanctioned by club officials after he was late to official pre-season training on Tuesday.
That is according to the SMH who are reporting the outside back has been handed an official warning as tensions continue to simmer between the two parties.
Nofoaluma returning to pre-season on Monday after two weeks away from training due to an ongoing feud.
The 30-year-old believed he was being treated unfairly by the Tigers’ football staff while they perceived his fitness levels upon return unacceptable.
Nofoaluma was reportedly pushed in a bid to improve his fitness after being beaten home in some physical tests by the club’s middle forwards.
However, he then walked out and complained about a lack of communication and also took issue to the training methods he was told to complete.
He sat out of Monday’s session due to a calf injury and also lodged an official complaint to the RLPA regarding his perceived unfair treatment.
Nofoaluma is the Tigers’ all-time leading tryscorer and has played has played 192 of his 198 NRL games with the Tigers over the last 11 seasons..
Nofoaluma is reportedly earning close to $500,000 per-season and has two years remaining on his current contract, however the Tigers’ latest move could see him ousted.
Tigers officials have reportedly already attempted to offload his services and it remains to be seen if he will feature for the club in 2024.
Days numbered for sanctioned Tigers veteran as ‘beginning of the end’ revealed
Days numbered for sanctioned Tigers veteran as ‘beginning of the end’ revealed
www.foxsports.com.au
Roar_Power
Well-known member
Why the Tigers’ record try-scorer is unlikely to play for club again
Wests Tigers winger David Nofoaluma has been given an official warning for being late to training as the odds of him playing for the club again lengthen by the day.According to sources familiar with the situation who are not authorised to speak publicly about the issue, the Tigers’ all-time leading try-scorer was sanctioned for not being on time to Tuesday’s session.
Nofoaluma only returned to training on Monday after sitting out pre-season training for almost a fortnight because of a perception of unfair treatment from the club’s football staff.
The 30-year-old consulted the Rugby League Players’ Association over the issue, a move that put Nofoaluma at odds with new Tigers coach Benji Marshall.
Nofoaluma is a former teammate of Marshall’s and currently tops the joint-venture’s all-time try-scoring list with 100 (Marshall is in second spot).
The Nofoaluma news comes as another twist in the most tumultuous week in the club’s history, with the Tigers’ entire board being dissolved and chief executive Justin Pascoe resigning after an external review into the club.
Veteran rugby league administrator Shane Richardson has taken over as interim chief executive and former NSW premier Barry O’Farrell as chairman after the review, which was commissioned by the club’s majority shareholder, the Wests Ashfield-aligned Holman Barnes Group.
Former Western Suburbs player and Test star John Dorahy, who was only appointed to Wests Tigers’ board in April, became the first director outside of outgoing chairman Lee Hagipantelis to publicly comment on the changes, saying he was caught off-guard by the mass cleanout.
“I underestimated the extent of the cull that occurred, absolutely,” said Dorahy, also a Wollongong City councillor. “Disappointed? Yes. But not totally surprised. I certainly wish all the best to the incoming chair and [new director] Dave Gilbert.
“Shane Richardson is a really good step given his background and I think the new chair being Barry O’Farrell, him being there previously, he understands the organisation and also has fantastic corporate connections I’m sure will exist.
“We were already going in the right direction, but this is probably a step up. If there’s an opportunity to get back on, I believe what I brought to the table was sound and good corporate strategy, but the decision was made by the Holman Barnes Group.”
Hagipantelis savaged the changes as “an ill-conceived publicity stunt that backfired” as the review recommended four of the seven seats on the board be filled by independent directors.
Hagipantelis’ business, Brydens Lawyers, is the club’s million-dollar front-of-jersey sponsor. There is still a year to go on that agreement.
The radical changes to the club’s leadership have extended beyond the board and chief executive, with this masthead able to reveal the man who helps piece together the club’s salary cap, chief financial officer Mark Sawicki, has also quit to join the St George Illawarra Dragons.
Billionaire property developer Harry Triguboff, who founded industry giant Meriton, has been one of the Tigers’ biggest financial backers, but also admitted he was alarmed with the scale of the club’s changes.
“I knew some of the people on the board were not happy, but I didn’t know anything about what was to happen,” Triguboff said. “It was a surprise. Whatever happens, it can’t be worse. It can be better, but it can’t be worse.
“I invited Benji and Justin Pascoe to lunch [recently]. I talked to them and now I hear this happened. It’s very unusual. I told Benji I will help them if they need it. I said, ‘I can talk to the players individually and then I can make up mind whether I can help them’.”
Why the Tigers’ record try-scorer is unlikely to play for club again
David Nofoaluma has been sanctioned for being late to training, while former club director John Dorahy has expressed disappointment at the Tigers’ cull.
Surely an incoming super league announcement..... 🙅♂️
Lee behaves like a spoilt brat. I can only imagine what he was like as a kid.
Roar_Power
Well-known member
I wouldn't be surprised if our major sponsor in 2025 is Meriton Apartments again.
There would have been many flies without wings and ants would go nowhere near him
Has to be on the cards.
pawsandclaws1
Well-known member
That would be an excellent outcome for WTs. As I wrote last night, he has been a very loyal supporter of Balmain and WTs.
AdelaideTiger
Well-known member
Having never seen an NRL contract, what kind of conditions are placed around attendance/performance etc...?
Obviously they vary player to player, but I would assume that attending training is a bare minimum just like any work place, and after a formal warning or two you can be released by your employer right? You would have to assume that David is walking on a very fine line right now.
Obviously they vary player to player, but I would assume that attending training is a bare minimum just like any work place, and after a formal warning or two you can be released by your employer right? You would have to assume that David is walking on a very fine line right now.
I have always believed Nofo gets far more criticism than he should but he has reached the end of the line if what is being reported is true.No player is bigger than the club and never has been and acting like a prima donna at the moment is doing damage both to himself and more importantly our club.
I hope that he does leave but wish him all the best to wherever he goes.He is our top try scorer of all time and on that basis alone deserves respect.I hope he leaves the club by the end of the year but i thank him for his efforts and passion for the club in the past
twentyforty
Well-known member
If that is a direct quote from Harry then he has made his intentions clear.
“I told Benji I will help them if they need it. I said, ‘I can talk to the players individually and then I can make up mind whether I can help them’.”
Nothing in that suggests an increase in charitable funding.
Betterdays22
Well-known member
Probably needs to go into another thread but I find this interesting. I thought Harry was now pretty hands off (physically and financially).
Roar_Power
Well-known member
Harry will be the first sponsor they will go back to for 2025 when Bryden's doesn't renew their own sponsorship.
innsaneink
Well-known member
Hopefully we can do better... I really Dont understand the quote is it a typo or his poor English... And what will him talking to players achieve?
I would hope when the time comes we have many potential backers to look at... If Merriton is one and they find them to be best suited then yes go for it
hammertime
Well-known member
3rd party. He is deciding on players individually. Potentially he may use them to help with Meriton. Some of the marque players like Api, would be a great asset to drop in on certain sales.
I'd say Harry has decided to throw a bit of his cash behind a 3rd party deal for Luai
Tom Shines
Well-known member
I’m assuming what he is saying, is that in the event of him agreeing to a third party deal he wants to eyeball the player and make sure they pass his sniff test before be hands over the money…
Dont understand why he is even commenting to the media about the Wests Tigers …. Doesn’t he have a billion dollar company to run ?
Back injury or weak heart
It would potentially be more beneficial for us to keep Meriton at arms length and have him handing out property as third party deals