'I got a bit emotional': Nofoaluma can't hide joy at new Tigers deal
By Christian Nicolussi
January 14, 2021 — 11.45am
As a joke, Wests Tigers fan favourite David Nofoaluma planned to tell his teammates first thing on Thursday he was about to quit the club.
"But when I started thinking about leaving, I became emotional,'' Nofoaluma said. "Even the boys started thinking I was about to leave because I became a bit emotional and struggled to get the words out.
"So I brushed the whole joke and said, 'I'm staying another four years'. Then all the boys started cheering. It was a nice moment.''
If Tigers players were pumped about the winger's signing news, long-suffering fans will be even more delighted their winger and best player in 2020 is now staying put until the end of 2025.
There was talk of some late interest from South Sydney, but Nofoaluma, a Campbelltown junior, said he would have struggled to pull on any other jersey.
Supporters will never forget that Nofoaluma was one of the first to commit to the club in 2017 when high-profile teammates James Tedesco, Aaron Woods and Mitchell Moses exited the club.
Nofoaluma had met with Eels coach Brad Arthur and was close to leaving back then, only for his love of the joint venture club to convince him to stay.
This time around, Nofoaluma channelled The Castle's Dennis Denuto and told the Herald it was the ''vibe'' that had him most excited about hanging around.
Teaming up with new recruit James Roberts on the right edge was also good reason to be optimistic about the club's latest campaign.
Nofoaluma has played eight seasons of first grade and never featured in a final. The easy option would have been to link with a more-fancied club to end the September hoodoo.
"I could have gone to another club and played finals footy, but it will be so much more rewarding to finally get there with the club I started with,'' Nofoaluma said. "I've been through all the tough times here. There's so much to play for.
"I can't explain it. I've been involved with the club eight years, but things feel so much more professional now compared to what I've dealt with in the past. It's the feel. It's the vibe.''
Nofoaluma is one of the best kick returners in the game and has set himself the personal goals of pulling on the NSW jersey and representing Samoa at the World Cup.
The right-edge combination with Roberts was one that had instantly clicked in recent weeks on the training paddock.
"Jimmy the Jet has been killing it, we've spent time training on the same side, and he's something else,'' Nofoaluma said.
"The one thing I love about Jimmy is seeing him happy. What he has been able to accomplish off the field in terms of his rehab, it's played a massive role in him being happy and giving him every chance to have a successful year.''
The Tigers lost Harry Grant, missed out on Josh Addo-Carr and chased hard for Josh Mansour, so Nofoaluma's prized signature is a huge morale boost.
Provided he stays fit, Nofoaluma can become just the fifth player to chalk up 200 NRL games at the club behind Robbie Farah, Benji Marshall, Chris Lawrence and Chris Heighington. He needs just 11 tries to overtake Marshall and Lawrence as the club's top tryscorer.
Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis said: "As a proud local junior, David embodies all of the core values we hold dearly at Wests Tigers — that is, team, excellence and respect — and constantly strives to make both himself and the team better in every way.
"I have no doubt that David’s loyalty to Wests Tigers is an inspiration to all local juniors at Wests Tigers and that he will play a leading role in delivering the on-field success that the Members and fans of this club deserve."
