Nofoaluma

[Tigerdon]

We never go through a season with no injuries in the outside backs. Nofo will get his chance soon enough. When that happens, Lets hope he takes chancers with both hands.

 

[weststigers]

How many tries has Noffa let in this year?

He's only played 2 games and 1 try was scored across both games.

Considering it was Vunivalu who scored on the opposite wing the answer is Zero..

Exactly…all this chat about his defence is last years news as far as the facts go.

It was MWZ's side that copped the hammering against Parra. Not having a go at him, just saying Noffa is up to FG standard.

All that aside...

The question begs. If we were to lose Noffa or MWZ, who would we all chose?

MWZ has played above his weight, but I'd chose Noffa if it came down to it.

 

[prattenparkchild]

I do think it a pity that this known deficit in his overall game - defense and bad reads - has been allowed to continue. For NRL standard winger you should be able to hold your own. Kudos for Cleary in taking a stand and kudos for Nufo in taking it on and working at it. We have never doubted his ability in attack but for a couple of seasons now always held our breath when the opposition attacked on his side. Someone had to do something.

 

[Coastie_Tiger]

Ive seen a couple of ISP games this year the ones that have been televised, arguably Fonua seems to be in better form than Noffa albeit Fonua seems to have a thumble here and there. I wouldnt mind comparing their stats side by side if anyone knows off hand where to find ISP stats?

edit some of Fonua's recent stats from another thread, obviously doesnt highlight his handling lapses

Mahe Fonua in 2018

Rd 1: 204m, 8 tackle breaks
Rd 2: 1 try, 218m, 7 tackle breaks
Rd 3: 1 try, 183m, 6 tackle breaks
Rd 4: 2 tries, 201m, 7 tackle breaks
Rd 5: 1 try, 204m, 4 tackle breaks#IntrustSuperPremiership#WSM

 

[balmain boy]

Maybe he can switch to left wing in ISP to improve his chances of first grade? Just a thought. 400k+ is a lof of money for a reserve grade winger.

Tui's kicking keeps him in first grade. Thompson is a more c complete winger than Nof. So he waits for now.

 

[Donald_Trump]

Maybe he can switch to left wing in ISP to improve his chances of first grade? Just a thought. 400k+ is a lof of money for a reserve grade winger.

Tui's kicking keeps him in first grade. Thompson is a more c complete winger than Nof. So he waits for now.

And $800k is a lot for our marquee 5/8 to play reserves when he comes back but that’s life

 

[balmain boy]

Maybe he can switch to left wing in ISP to improve his chances of first grade? Just a thought. 400k+ is a lof of money for a reserve grade winger.

Tui's kicking keeps him in first grade. Thompson is a more c complete winger than Nof. So he waits for now.

And $800k is a lot for our marquee 5/8 to play reserves when he comes back but that’s life

Reynolds definitely won't be play ISP. At worst off the bench, but most likely Benji will go to the bench instead of Godinet. But that's a discussion for another thread.

 

[Tweed_Tiger]

**Resilient Nofoaluma not taking any opportunity for granted**

_Dan Talintyre
Thu 19 Apr 2018, 02:37 PM_

Nobody was more surprised than David Nofoaluma when the Wests Tigers team for Round 1 was announced, and the star winger's name wasn't included in the squad.

It was a wake-up call from Coach Ivan Cleary that could have been taken one of two ways.

But for the Campbelltown Collegians junior, it was a masterstroke from the coach — bringing out a renewed focus and attitude that saw him fight his way back in to the squad the following week.

And after earning that spot back, Nofoaluma is determined to ensure the jersey remains his own.

Opening up to reporters at training today, the 24-year-old didn't hide his disappointment in missing out at times this year, but said it was a move that has brought out the best in himself and the squad as a whole.

"I was pretty gutted and it hit me pretty hard that I wasn't there in Round 1," Nofoaluma conceded.

"But that happens to the best of players, and I think it might have come as a bit of a wake-up call for me and a lot of players in the squad too. It just goes to show that no matter who you are, you have to be at your best to be in this team. You have to be the best player in your position or you won't be there.

"I'd played a lot of first-grade before but coming back has made me appreciate more what it means to be in first-grade. Every opportunity I get and every time I train, I don’t take that for granted.

"I know now that it’s hard to get in to such a good team with lots of competition.

"This team is doing great, so for me, I'm the most of my time playing and the chance I have."

Other players have been quick to praise Cleary for his efforts in building the culture around the team in 2018, but few have the insight that Nofoaluma has in how helpful that mentoring can be.

"I think Ivan has got the culture with every single player," he said.

"No matter who you are in the team — if you're competing and being the best player you can be, you'll be in the team. That's what he wants from every player and what the key thing is for me."

The focus for Nofoaluma is clear, then: make every day count in his rugby league career.

"All my efforts at training have just been about resilience and being the best player I can be.

"Just the small things — preparation and on game day, turning up and starting the game off strong.

"It’s just about never feeling comfortable in first-grade and always being at my best."

**Link to the full interview below.**

https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2018/04/19/nofoaluma-not-taking-any-opportunity-for-granted/

 

[Seantice]

Maybe he can switch to left wing in ISP to improve his chances of first grade? Just a thought. 400k+ is a lof of money for a reserve grade winger.

Tui's kicking keeps him in first grade. Thompson is a more c complete winger than Nof. So he waits for now.

And $800k is a lot for our marquee 5/8 to play reserves when he comes back but that’s life

Valentine Holmes 700k on the wing. I honestly think storm are the only ones who get the right price for a player.

Except Reynolds and McQueen our player salaries are about right.

 

[VanillaThunder]

That article pretty much puts the thread to bed, right? Everyone is quick to jump on the “disgruntled” bandwagon because we see it so often, but it’s nice to get the full story and appreciate Nofo’s attitude. We’ve definitely missed some of his carries, so here’s to a long and successful first grade career at the Tigers.

 

[Balmainbred]

I think nofo & mwz are our best wingers at the moment.

 

[TigerSJ]

Going on form it is clear to me that the best combo at the moment is Thomson at the back with Noffa and MWZ on the wings - that's it! Until Tui, or Fonua, or anyone else, shows that they are consistently at the top of their game they will remain in ISP, and so they should. I think the backs are picking themselves - it's more of a headache for Ivan in the forwards (when everyone is fit that is).

 

[newtiger]

Congratulations on Nofa not having a dummy spit, just knows now that players have to work hard to play in Ivan's team.
That's the way it should be, no one guaranteed spots.

 

[Masterton]

Anyone else think he was pretty conservative in his attempt to avoid errors?

 

[hammertime]

Maybe he can switch to left wing in ISP to improve his chances of first grade? Just a thought. 400k+ is a lof of money for a reserve grade winger.

Tui's kicking keeps him in first grade. Thompson is a more c complete winger than Nof. So he waits for now.

And $800k is a lot for our marquee 5/8 to play reserves when he comes back but that’s life

Valentine Holmes 700k on the wing. I honestly think storm are the only ones who get the right price for a player.

Except Reynolds and McQueen our player salaries are about right.

I think we're probably paying for unders on brooks, benji, rochow and Thompson based on form. All balances out.

 

[Nelson]

Maybe he can switch to left wing in ISP to improve his chances of first grade? Just a thought. 400k+ is a lof of money for a reserve grade winger.

Tui's kicking keeps him in first grade. Thompson is a more c complete winger than Nof. So he waits for now.

And $800k is a lot for our marquee 5/8 to play reserves when he comes back but that’s life

Valentine Holmes 700k on the wing. I honestly think storm are the only ones who get the right price for a player.

Except Reynolds and McQueen our player salaries are about right.

I think we're probably paying for unders on brooks, benji, rochow and Thompson based on form. All balances out.

…and Marsters and Twal and probably Eisenhuth as well...Liddle is looking pretty good for what wouldn't be a big contract too.

 

[Luke]

That article pretty much puts the thread to bed, right? Everyone is quick to jump on the “disgruntled” bandwagon because we see it so often, but it’s nice to get the full story and appreciate Nofo’s attitude. We’ve definitely missed some of his carries, so here’s to a long and successful first grade career at the Tigers.

I'm not saying he is disgruntled right now, but if he was, do you really think he would make that public? Of course he is going to say what he said. The worrying thing is he wasn't even sure exactly why he was dropped and it came as a shock. You would think that Ivan would have had some sort of conversation with him to explain his decision and exactly what he needs to work on.

 

[VanillaThunder]

I get what you mean, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Ivan did sit him down and tell him about it. He said it was a shock that he wasn’t picked round 1, but all the noise made throughout pre-season was effort and performance would be rewarded. If he wasn’t seen as one of the top two performing wingers, then that’s about all there is to it. The shock might have been a coach actually following through on their words.
That said, the best part of Nofo’s comments is that you have to be at your best to get picked. He’s acknowledged that he can’t coast, and if he doesn’t get a run then it’s because he’s not showing the same effort or commitment as someone else. Can only breed a good environment