Club record tryscorer David Nofoaluma has officially departed the Wests Tigers after his simmering tension with new coach Benji Marshall came to a head on Tuesday.
After threatening to sack the winger following a series of breach notices, the Tigers have agreed to a $300,000 payout that ends over a decade of service and has announced “club and player have agreed to terminate the contract by mutual consent, effect immediately”.
The former Samoa international had two years left on a deal with $500,000 per season, guaranteeing him at least $1m from the Tigers, according to the Sydney Morning Herald, and had been previously unwilling to take the cash on offer to leave.
He was set for a legal showdown with the club after they attempted to terminate his deal by serving a second breach notice to the player, at least his third in the last three years.
The Rugby League Players Association (RLPA) had stepped in and the matter was set to escalate to board level, before a severance package was agreed.
“We thank David for all that he has given to this club over the past decade,” said interim CEO Shane Richardson in the club statement. “We wish David all the very best with his future.”
It has been reported that Marshall had told Nofoaluma that he would not be considered for the NRL team again, consigning him to reserve grade for the remainder of his deal with the club.
The winger, who made close to 200 appearances for the club and was their all-time top tryscorer, has been on the outer at Concord following a bust-up with former teammate Marshall over physical fitness standards at the beginning of pre-season.
Nofoaluma was served with a breach notice late last year after he refused to train, citing unfair treatment and victimisation by coaching staff.
He had been one of the worst performers in early pre-season, failing to meet the new levels set by incoming coach Marshall.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
He was sanctioned a second time under Marshall after failing to follow illness procedures early last week. Nofaluma reported in sick but was uncontactable by club medical staff for two days, with the Tigers sending a player to his house to check on his welfare.
Previously, he had been sanctioned for bring unable to complete a training session under Michael Maguire due to a hangover following a wedding.
Nofoaluma played 17 times last year, scoring five tries, but had been on the outer before that with a short loan spell at the Melbourne Storm in 2022.
The Tigers have been attempting to find a new club for the player, but have been unable to find a taker. Now, Nofoaluma is free to negotiate and will have offers from both Australia and the Super League.
The 30-year-old’s exit will cap a period of rapid squad overhaul, with only one player remaining from former coach Michael Maguire’s first season in charge in 2019.
That man is Alex Twal, who late last year was given permission to look elsewhere before soon after being locked into a three-year extension. So brutal has been the turnover at the Tigers, all of the other 25 players used in the 2019 season have left the club.
Only Twal, Nofoaluma Adam Doueihi and Asu Kepaoa remain from the 2020 pre-season. Six players from 2021, when current squad members Stefano Utoikamanu and Jake Simpkin first played for the club, are still at Concord.
The rate of turnover is only matched by fellow cellar-dwellers Canterbury, and sums up the two teams’ long battle to return to the finals.
Players remaining with their club from 2019
Sydney Roosters: 10
Canberra: 10
Manly: 9
Penrith: 9
North Queensland: 8
Melbourne: 7
South Sydney: 7
Parramatta: 6
Cronulla: 6
Warriors: 6
Brisbane: 4
Newcastle: 4
St George Illawarra: 4
Gold Coast: 3
Canterbury: 1
Wests Tigers: 1
with AAP
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Sounds dodgy. Who’s taking $300,000, when they can get another $700,000 over two years? What other secret payment have they offered him to go? A unit somewhere?
Robbo
Roar Rookie
They wouldn't do much anyway except watch. It would be more of a humbling experience than hard graft. You're not about to really let someone do too much in a high risk environment, and you're not going to put much effort into training them knowing that they are gone in 2 weeks.
Peta Smith
Roar Rookie
If he’s unprofessional at the Tigers, there’s not a chance he would pass the two week unpaid construction work trial at the Storm.
langparker
Roar Rookie
MMH, if as per your comment “he had been one of the worst performers in early pre-season” then should we expect a few more sanctions and sackings? It would be interesting to hear who lagged behind with him & how much they are earning. Nothing wrong with higher standards but hopefully they apply equally.
Short Memory
Roar Rookie
How was he 'overloaded with extra work'? He turned up to pre-season unfit to the extent that he couldn't keep up with forwards. Clearly in need of extra training, they gave it to him. Instead of talking out any objections he had to this with the club, be went to the RLPA to make a formal complaint. Then he called in sick - which perhaps he was - but for whatever reason didn't return club's calls and dodged seeing the club doctor. Even his close personal friend Hagipantelis stated publicly he had some growing up to do. The club's expectations at each step were reasonable. Nofa's actions at each step were unreasonable. If I did that in my line of work I'd get the big DCM - minus the $300k payout.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
There have been plenty of occasions in his time at the Tigers when he’s looked like one of the only first grade standard players in their backline. No wonder he got frustrated :happy:
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
Clearly not a smokescreen given he's now accepted the termination offer
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
What's equally good is that the new management obviously backed Benji 100%. I wonder what Pascoe and co would have done? It also has to send a very clear message to the rest of the squad and equally, to players toying with offers from the Tigers. They clearly mean business
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
He'll get a job somewhere because when motivated he's an OK player but probably won't be in the NRL.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
If he was good enough Marshall would pick him. Reserve grade selections seems to confirm he is not.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
So he could have played in the Reggie’s for $500k x 2 years, not keen on fitness or training, at the end of his career, couldn’t find another club to take him and is a winger!Agrees to take $300k and bugger off and leave behind $700k. Sounds like both club and player have a problem that can only be solved by the players absence.
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
Phil, Happens regularly in the business world. Overload someone with extra work and judge them harshly until they quit.
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
Langparker: You are right - though we do have to acknowledge different coaches and different adminstration. But Nofa has documented and undocumented offseason drama in his past spanning back at least 5 years to my knowledge. It was ok when he was performing, no one cared. And as easy as it is to sink the slipper into the Tigers, we've seen clubs turn blind eyes to players like Burgess and Johns and so many more, when they could deliver on the field. So they are not Roninson Cruso here.
andrew
Roar Rookie
Good to see Benji cracking the whip and not copping the b s.
Robbo
Roar Rookie
Ring, ring......"Hi Bellyache - it's Dave. Got a cheap room?"
Phil
Roar Rookie
I haven't bought into anything mate. Read again the first six words of my 2nd sentence taking particular notice of word No1.
langparker
Roar Rookie
Unless it’s all a smokescreen put out by the club to shore up their justification for worming out of the bad deal they negotiated. Seems you’ve bought into the club press releases.
Dumbo
Roar Rookie
Langparker - You say that as if it's a bad thing !
Boomshanka
Roar Rookie
Someone doesn't want to be where he isn't wanted. Wonder what came first?
Phil
Roar Rookie
It's hard to believe a 1st grade player would say the training is too hard. If the reports are indeed true then DF is not fit for NRL level and Benji has every right to direct him to reserves. Having been served three breach notices over training says something about his attitude. It wouldn't sit well with the rest of the squad busting their guts at training with one complaining about the workload.