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David Nofoaluma is on the radar of NSW Origin officials, and if the Blues team was picked tomorrow you could make a serious case to give the unheralded Wests Tigers winger the nod ahead of incumbent Blake Ferguson.
Sydney Roosters flyer, and retired representative footballer, Brett Morris is arguably the most in-form winger in the NRL, but Nofoaluma is a close second based on his statistics.
The player listed at 182cm on the Tigers’ website will pose plenty of headaches for Wayne Bennett and South Sydney on Friday night.
Tigers coach Michael Maguire won a premiership at Souths, and challenged Nofoaluma to adopt a similar mindset to the one Greg Inglis had when dominating teams with his early carries.
"‘Madge’ has often spoken to me about Greg Inglis and his mentality and how he had this ability to change a game in a certain moment, or be that player to set an example in the back field and create something,’’ Nofoaluma said.
"I’m not anything like Greg Inglis and we’re totally different players. But it’s about trying to own the back field, own my position, and getting my teammates going.
"Madge gave me that challenge and I think I’m ticking all the boxes with those challenges.’’
Nofoaluma is averaging 184 run metres this season, compared to Ferguson’s 162m. He also leads the way in other key categories, including tries (8-0), line-breaks (8-1), tackle-busts (43-16) and offloads (9-4).
Ferguson has never disappointed for NSW, but has been below his lofty standards for competition leaders Parramatta.
Nofoaluma knows the Tigers will need to push deep into the finals, something the Eels already seem set to do, to boost his Origin case.
His immediate focus will be getting used to a new centre partner. Chris Lawrence is a big chance to start the game ahead of Michael Chee Kam, who has been named in the suspended Joey Leilua’s No. 4 jersey.
Leilua was given a four-match ban for collecting Penrith’s Dylan Edwards off the ball.
His ordinary week continued when he appeared to twinge a hamstring while running with the reserves at training on Tuesday. He was forced off the paddock early.
Nofoaluma said an emotional Leilua apologised to his teammates almost immediately in the sheds.
"He was emotional and told us he had let the team down and it wouldn’t happen again,’’ Nofoaluma said.
Meanwhile, skipper Moses Mbye revealed he survived a knee scare on the weekend against the Panthers - because he had no posterior cruciate ligament.
"I’ve had a bit of history on that [right] knee, and I was probably lucky on the weekend because after I hyper-extended it, I don’t have a PCL, otherwise I would have done it again,’’ Mbye said.
Of the post-match scenes involving Penrith coach Ivan Cleary blowing kisses to the Tigers fans he walked out on at the end of 2018, Mbye said: "It’s good to see coaches with a bit of humour. Everyone knows the history of Ivan and the Tigers - the roster we have is pretty much Ivan’s roster - but he was probably copping flak from the guy in front of him, but I’ve got no problems with it. It gives us something to flak about during the week.’’
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Nofo has been in career best form this season
but wait
fergo who? is that the guy who had a broken nose
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It would do him the world of good I think. Take his game to the next level.
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@mike said in Nofoaluma or Ferguson? Which right winger gets nod:
It would do him the world of good I think. Take his game to the next level.
And his asking price.
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@GNR4LIFE said in Nofoaluma or Ferguson? Which right winger gets nod:
@mike said in Nofoaluma or Ferguson? Which right winger gets nod:
It would do him the world of good I think. Take his game to the next level.
And his asking price.
Don’t mind paying top dollar if a player is performing at an elite level.
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Honestly …no brainer Ferguson
As a Qlder I’d be ecstatic if you picked Nofa for NSW
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Incumbents deserve their spots…
All Nofoaluma can do is continue to play the way he is
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I’ll let the NSW selectors to pick who they want.
I’ve been very impressed with Nofa of late, and he wouldn’t look out of place there.Let’s just get through the season and see what happens. Good on Nofa for being in the frame for potential selection though.
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He’s in the conversation so it shows what football minds think of him.
He wouldn’t look out of place, but ferguson is always solid at origin and has the anger.
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Mbye stands up again when talking about Cleary. Seriously is there a shop window we can stick him in?
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Nofa would get targeted and found out if he played origin. Ferguson, Cotric, JAC all ahead of him. If the Morris boys want to put their hands up for origin again I’d pick them as well
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Tbh,Ferguson has had a very ordinary year,and really lacks involvement and is being completely outshone by Siva
Nofa has been absolutely outstanding for us,and our next best behind Harry.Problem is,he has a couple of deficiencies which were particularly exploited by Knights,and in the cauldron of a SOO he can be easily targetted and very vulnerable.Not worth the gamble -
Those stats don’t lie man. Nofoaluma is a weapon. Stupidly underrated and his defensive issues totally overblown.
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Nofo doesn’t have the thug element that is a part of origin but he definitely is a tough and talented player.
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@tigerbill said in Nofoaluma or Ferguson? Which right winger gets nod:
Nofo doesn’t have the thug element that is a part of origin but he definitely is a tough and talented player.
I agree with that attitude needed for Origin.
Nofa was giving a bit of lip last week to the panthers. Unusual for him, I certainly liked it, and more of that could see him develop that Origin-required thug attitude
