David Nofoaluma #164

David Nofoaluma returned to Wests Tigers training at Concord on Monday, but only as a spectator as a calf injury ruled him out of taking part in a field session.

The club’s all-time top try-scorer had refused to train because of perceived unfair treatment. Sources with knowledge of the situation speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the confidential nature of discussions believe Nofoaluma may not play with the Tigers in 2024.

Nofoaluma, who wants to remain at the club, only agreed to return to training after he met with officials from the Tigers and Rugby League Players’ Association last Thursday night.

RLPA representatives Jamie Buhrer and Sia Soliola spoke with Nofoaluma at the end of Monday’s training session. The RLPA later said the representatives had been there to address the entire playing group, and not to follow up on the Nofoaluma matter.
Nofoaluma, who is one of the Tigers’ best-paid players on a $500,000-a-year deal until the end of 2025, appeared in good spirits but declined to comment when approached by this masthead.

The 30-year-old winger has struggled since returning to pre-season training, to the point he failed to beat home some front-rowers in a time trial.

New coach Benji Marshall, who played alongside Nofoaluma during his second stint at the Tigers between 2018-2020, has made it known to the group that no player is guaranteed a starting spot and that hard work over the summer will be the only thing he considers when it comes to picking his NRL side in round one.

Marshall would not comment on the matter when approached, nor would Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe.

Nofoaluma was loaned to the Melbourne Storm at the end of 2022, but struggled to recapture his form last season and spent time in reserve grade. He missed the final game of the year against Manly because of illness.

The Tigers are aware they would need to contribute to any deal Nofoaluma could broker elsewhere, but there has been little interest from rival NRL clubs nor the Super League.

Further complicating negotiations with prospective clubs is the fact Nofoaluma is in the middle of re-negotiating a new contract with his management company

Meanwhile, the Wests Ashfield board will meet on Tuesday night, with an independent review into the corporate governance of the joint venture likely to be ratified by the Holman Barnes Group, the controlling faction on the Tigers board.

It has been widely reported the Holman Barnes Group, who provide four of the seven directors to the Tigers, have given thought to scrapping the board, including chairman Lee Hagipantelis, and starting again.

That remains an option, but sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed nothing had been rubber-stamped, and there remained an outside chance there was no need for change at all.

The review was instigated after the Tigers missed out on an eleventh straight NRL finals series.

The Tigers also confirmed they had signed Solomon Alaimalo, a 27-year-old outside back who had spent the past few seasons playing Super Rugby with the Waikato Chiefs. Alaimalo, the 2017 Chiefs rookie of the year, trained with the Tigers for the first time on Monday
 
Kaito said:
David Nofoaluma returned to Wests Tigers training at Concord on Monday, but only as a spectator as a calf injury ruled him out of taking part in a field session.

The club’s all-time top try-scorer had refused to train because of perceived unfair treatment. Sources with knowledge of the situation speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the confidential nature of discussions believe Nofoaluma may not play with the Tigers in 2024.

Nofoaluma, who wants to remain at the club, only agreed to return to training after he met with officials from the Tigers and Rugby League Players’ Association last Thursday night.

RLPA representatives Jamie Buhrer and Sia Soliola spoke with Nofoaluma at the end of Monday’s training session. The RLPA later said the representatives had been there to address the entire playing group, and not to follow up on the Nofoaluma matter.
Nofoaluma, who is one of the Tigers’ best-paid players on a $500,000-a-year deal until the end of 2025, appeared in good spirits but declined to comment when approached by this masthead.

The 30-year-old winger has struggled since returning to pre-season training, to the point he failed to beat home some front-rowers in a time trial.

New coach Benji Marshall, who played alongside Nofoaluma during his second stint at the Tigers between 2018-2020, has made it known to the group that no player is guaranteed a starting spot and that hard work over the summer will be the only thing he considers when it comes to picking his NRL side in round one.

Marshall would not comment on the matter when approached, nor would Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe.

Nofoaluma was loaned to the Melbourne Storm at the end of 2022, but struggled to recapture his form last season and spent time in reserve grade. He missed the final game of the year against Manly because of illness.

The Tigers are aware they would need to contribute to any deal Nofoaluma could broker elsewhere, but there has been little interest from rival NRL clubs nor the Super League.

Further complicating negotiations with prospective clubs is the fact Nofoaluma is in the middle of re-negotiating a new contract with his management company

Meanwhile, the Wests Ashfield board will meet on Tuesday night, with an independent review into the corporate governance of the joint venture likely to be ratified by the Holman Barnes Group, the controlling faction on the Tigers board.

It has been widely reported the Holman Barnes Group, who provide four of the seven directors to the Tigers, have given thought to scrapping the board, including chairman Lee Hagipantelis, and starting again.

That remains an option, but sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed nothing had been rubber-stamped, and there remained an outside chance there was no need for change at all.

The review was instigated after the Tigers missed out on an eleventh straight NRL finals series.

The Tigers also confirmed they had signed Solomon Alaimalo, a 27-year-old outside back who had spent the past few seasons playing Super Rugby with the Waikato Chiefs. Alaimalo, the 2017 Chiefs rookie of the year, trained with the Tigers for the first time on Monday
Click to expand...
At least Nofo got to meet his replacement upon arrival
 
Unsettled winger David Nofoaluma returned to Wests Tigers training on Monday, alongside the club’s newest signing — towering former Super Rugby speedster Solomon Alaimalo.
Alaimalo, 27, is a New Zealand outside back who earned rookie of the year honours in his debut season with the Chiefs in 2017.
At 196cm, Alaimalo is the same height as Sydney Roosters high flyer Daniel Tupou.
“We’re very excited to have Solomon join the club,” Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall said. “He is a very explosive athlete with great speed, power, and agility.
“He will also add leadership and experience to our group, and he is a man of great character.”
Alaimalo played Super Rugby with the Waikato Chiefs, and more recently with Canterbury in New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship.
“It’s been a really nice welcome from everyone here at Wests Tigers from the moment I touched down last night,” he said.
“This place [the Zurich Centre] is amazing and I can’t wait to settle in and get stuck into pre-season training.
“There are a lot of guys in the squad who are from back home, including Benji, so that probably will make it even easier for me to adjust to my new home here at Wests Tigers.”


Alaimalo who only flew into Sydney on Sunday night, was straight in for training the following morning, when absentee winger Nofoaluma also reported for duty.
However, the issues involving the star winger and the club remain unresolved, perhaps permanently.
Nofoaluma hadn’t trained since last Wednesday after claiming he was subjected to unfair treatment at training. He lodged an official complaint with the RLPA over the club’s alleged conduct.
While Nofoaluma was back training at Concord on Monday, the drama is far from over.
The club has tried desperately hard to keep Nofoaluma happy but the two parties remain at odds over what constitutes an acceptable attitude to playing and training.
There are suggestions that the unrest between Nofoaluma and his teammates and coaching staff remains.
Some teammates are even telling their agents that they hope Nofoaluma considers leaving.
He has two years remaining at Concord but his future at the club remains largely uncertain.
Club insiders wouldn’t prevent Nofoaluma from leaving if he found another club.
Wests Tigers have made a number of strange decisions in recent years but well-placed sources claim the club has acted appropriately and professionally with Nofoaluma.
Privately, teammates believe Nofoaluma should train harder rather than complain to the RLPA.
Nofoaluma and head coach Benji Marshall are known to be close although the club was unimpressed with Nofoaluma’s fitness levels.

There was also a reported communication issue between Nofoaluma and the club’s football department.
Nofoaluma didn’t physically train on Monday due to a niggling calf injury but was at the club’s Concord headquarters and was expected to complete a gym session on Monday afternoon.
Wests Tigers have a full training session on Tuesday which Nofoaluma will attend.
The club wants Nofoaluma back to full fitness heading into the club’s Christmas break.
Nofoaluma, the club’s leading all-time try scorer, is on a contract worth around $500,000 a season.
There were suggestions he may be interested in a return to the club he was loaned to back in 2022, Melbourne Storm.
At the time, Nofoaluma told the media: “It was one of the best things in my career.
“After 10 years of not being able to play finals, it kind of felt like a promotion to be able to do that with such a quality side like Melbourne.”
 
Surely having a calf injury doesn't mean you cant train at all.

Can still do weights, bike, hydro, passing drills etc
 
Another interesting thing is that he's gone to RLPA rather than NRL. RLPA has power but as far as I'm aware, doesn't really have any official role. If you want to officially lodge a complaint, surely you go to the NRL?
 
If there were reps from the players association at training to follow up on it - how can anyone trust him - he has alienated himself from the playing group!
Good on those still giving him them benefit of the doubt. I consider myself a reasonably fair minded person but he has lost me.
 
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