‘Demonstrates the kind of club you belong to,’ Nofoaluma sneers as the former Tigers player discusses his sad departure.
After signing with a new Super League team, David Nofoaluma has spoken out about his difficult divorce from the Wests Tigers.
Nofoaluma had a turbulent debut under rookie coach Benji Marshall, and the Tigers and the veteran agreed to split ways last month.
The 30-year-old winger, who signed a 12-month contract with the Salford Devils, allegedly took a $300,000 compensation for the last two seasons of his Tigers contract.
With the departure of the team’s leading try scorer under difficult circumstances, it signaled the end of an era for the Tigers.
Nofoaluma scored precisely 100 tries for the Tigers in 198 NRL games, including six on loan for the Storm in 2022.
He told News Corp., “I think it’s a good move for me to get out of Sydney and experience what it’s like over in Europe.”
“I’m thrilled about it,” I experienced a new club when I visited Melbourne, so I am familiar with what it’s like to be in a foreign setting. It’s a new beginning.
But Nofoaluma acknowledged that the manner his tenure with the Tigers ended “hurt” him.
It is obviously disappointing. I’m personally saddened by that,” Nofoaluma said to The Sydney Morning Herald.
People frequently forget that we are human beings before we become athletes. There’s no need to resort to the press (to leak unfavorable reports) rather than handling it personally. It’s not a kind thing to do, in my opinion.
It reveals the kind of club you belong to. It’s a good thing that I no longer have to deal with it.
Nofoaluma emphasized that he and former Tigers teammate Marshall had no animosity toward one another.
He remarked, “Benji and I were really close.”
“I still recall him reaching out to me at the Broncos feeder club, asking if I could talk to the Tigers’ management about helping him return to the team.
“We played together in the past, and when he came over, he set up a lot of my tries in 2020 when I won the Dally M winger of the year and player (of the year) for the Tigers. So in a way, I got him back.”
We’ve accomplished a great deal of wonderful things together. Since I do respect him greatly, I am aware that it is a business.
“I really appreciate that he is a coach who must make decisions, even though things turned out the way they did.”
Nofoaluma acknowledged that his last few years with the club had not been easy, but he still treasured his memories of Concord.
“During my tenure, I held the title of the team’s longest-serving player,” he declared.
Even if things didn’t work out and they wanted me to go, it doesn’t diminish the time I spent there.
“Over the past year or two, there have been moments when I’ve found it difficult to get my playing together. Because they can still recall all the nice things I did for them, many Tigers supporters still love and respect me.
Rugby league is a business these days. Never expect loyalty from young athletes, if I were to give them any advise.
“I felt like I had abandoned Tigers when I first moved to Melbourne. As you can see, it revived my football career.
“It was depressing to return; I had no idea what to anticipate. I thought my time with the Tigers was over once I departed.
