Axed star whacks Tigers after brutal Benji act

Exiled winger David Nofoaluma has opened up about his messy exit from the Wests Tigers. Nofoaluma spoke to The Sydney Morning Herald after it was revealed he will continue his rugby league career in England with Salford. He scored 100 tries - the most in Tigers history - across 192 NRL games for the joint venture side, but was brutally told by new coach Benji Marshall his time at the club was done. Nofoaluma accepted a $300,000 payout to leave Concord, but only after he says negative stories about him were leaked to media to tarnish his reputation. "It hurts me personally," Nofoaluma told the Herald. "A lot of times, people don't realise we're humans before athletes. "Instead of dealing with it on a personal level … there's no need to go to the press [to leak negative stories]. I don't think it's a nice thing to do. "It shows what type of club you are. I don't have to deal with that any more, which is a good thing. "These days, rugby league is a business. If I was to give advice to any young athlete, don't take loyalty [as an expectation]." The Tigers have previously been admonished by current and former players, as well as coaching staff, for leaking information to media. Nofoaluma's only other NRL games came for Melbourne when he was loaned to the Storm for a short period in 2022. He says "it wasn't the same" once he returned to the Tigers the following year.

Tigers to axe club record holder after Benji ultimatum

Wests Tigers winger David Nofoaluma is set to be sacked by the club after reportedly receiving a termination letter following two breach notices.The Samoa representative has been summoned to front the club's board on Wednesday with The Sydney Morning Herald revealing he has been offered a payout of $300,000 to cancel the two years remaining on his contract.Nofoaluma - the club's all-time leading tryscorer - is currently on a deal worth $525,000 a season.It's understood the Tigers' payout offer has not been accepted.Nofoaluma has reportedly told the Rugby League Players' Association (RLPA) that coach Benji Marshall told him he would not play NRL again at the Tigers."We're continuing to work through it with all parties involved and are not in a position to make further comment," RLPA chief executive officer Clint Newton said.The 30-year-old received his second breach notice sanction in a month last week, when he missed training with illness.He reportedly told the club he had a gastro but a doctor was unable to get in contact with him for the next 48 hours, with a player eventually sent to his house. Nofoaluma's original breach came in December when he didn't attend training due to his belief he was receiving unfair treatment, relating to new training methods.

Tigers star tipped to go after latest sanction

Wests Tigers winger David Nofoaluma has been given an official warning for being late to training, with claims the star may not lace a boot for the club again.The Sydney Morning Herald reports, the Tigers' all-time leading try-scorer was sanctioned for not being on time to Tuesday's session as tensions continue to simmer between the two parties.The report claims the winger's chances of playing for Wests next season are growing thinner by the day.Nofoaluma returned to pre-season on Monday after two weeks away from training due to an ongoing feud.It's understood the club was concerned about his level of fitness after he was reportedly beaten in some physical tests by the club's forwards.Nofoaluma complained about a lack of communication and also took issue to the training regime and lodged an official complaint to the RLPA over his perceived unfair treatment.Nofoaluma, reportedly earning close to $500,000 per-season, has two years remaining on his current contract.Reports claim Tigers officials have already tried to offload the star and it could spell the end for the Tigers legend at Concord.

Raw Benji conversation that reignited axed Tiger

If anyone knew how to get enigmatic Tigers winger David Nofoaluma's career back on track, it was Benji Marshall.Benji played alongside Nofoaluma for three years in Tiger town and knows exactly what makes the speedster tick.So when Nofoaluma lost his way in the early rounds of the new season, Benji - the assistant to Tigers coach Tim Sheens - stepped in."Things weren't going the way I wanted," Nofoaluma told Wide World of Sports."I wasn't playing up to my standard, I got dropped … I had a foot injury that held me back, as well."And the team was struggling to get a win so it was tough for everyone."I decided to have a talk with Benji because he knows my game - he was a teammate for three years."He knows when I'm at my best and what I have to do to get back there."He helped me get my focus and belief back. He basically told me, 'Be the player I know you can be', and helped me regain my confidence."The win over Penrith was massive for us and hopefully a turning point for the rest of the season."It felt great to beat such a quality team and it really worked wonders for my self belief - and I think a lot of other guys too."We had been coming close a few times but not winning and that can get to you if you let it."The stunning upset win over the premiers proved a landmark for Nofoaluma. He scored his 100th NRL try and showed glimpses of the old dash he displayed regularly playing outside Marshall in days gone by."It was a great effort all around and we have a good mix now of some old heads and young guys starting their careers," he said."We can hopefully string a few wins together now, starting with the Dragons in Magic Round, and work our way up the ladder."

Brad Fittler, Andrew Johns clash on David Nofoaluma's future at Wests Tigers

Brad Fittler has urged David Nofoaluma to return with a positive attitude and impact at the beleaguered Wests Tigers, rather than having his head turned by his stint at the Melbourne Storm.Fittler took aim at the controversial loan system, and said it was no shock that the players who left the Tigers for greener pastures are now seemingly reluctant to return to Concord."I don't like the idea - it just muddies the water straight away already," Fittler said on Nine's Freddy and the Eighth."There's a few of these players, Gildart who went to the Roosters, and obviously Nofoaluma. And they're both saying 'we'd love to stay' and now they've got to go back to the club. This was always going to happen."Andrew Johns said that he'd like to see Nofoaluma remain at the Storm permanently, but Fittler was having none of it."The idea is for him to come back with his experience, and be a leader," Fittler said."Two years ago he was talking about getting on our bus, and chanting Tigers. All of a sudden, it's got too hard for him."He should be taking their training principles and bringing them and back and go 'this is what we should accept, and what we shouldn't accept.' It's a good time for him to come back and be a leader - get on the bus Nofa!"The Tigers are at rock bottom right now, and are in the box seat for the first wooden spoon in the joint venture's history.

Ex-Tigers shining elsewhere

The Tigers may well finish with the wooden spoon - but I can't help thinking they will play an influential role in who wins the 2022 premiership.The two players they released mid-season - David Nofoaluma and Luciano Leilua - are genuine game-breakers who will have a big impact in the finals.Nofoaluma was superb on the flank for the Storm as they demolished the Broncos while the enigmatic Leilua was red hot as the Cowboys thumped the Warriors 48-4.A real handful with his ability to break tackles out wide and offload, Leilua ran for 137 metres and scored a try.He's growing in confidence in every outing under Todd Payten, who has him running at little men who simply can't contain him.

Wests Tigers facing fight to retain on-loan star

The Wests Tigers face a tough time getting David Nofoaluma to remain at the club, with the winger admitting his loan stint with the Storm has helped him rediscover his love for the game.After spending the entirety of his career at the Tigers, Nofoaluma joined the Storm on a loan until the end of the 2022 season after season-ending injuries to a host of Melbourne outside backs.Having scored his first try for the club in a win over the Panthers, Nofoaluma says he's been left fighting tears at the prospect of his first trip to the post-season."You have to be a part of it to actually know what it feels like. It's just something I've never experienced before and I can see why they're such a successful team," he told 9News Sydney of his experience with the Storm so far."I think I'd actually cry (at the prospect of playing finals). We play this game to be successful and to play finals."I've waited such a long time, 10 years, and to not be able to play finals, let alone a grand final it can wear you down as a player."Nofoaluma has been a mainstay in Tigers line-ups over the last decade, but saw himself fall out of favour this season, even having to endure a stint of reserve grade football.It was an experience that resulted in the 28-year-old losing his love for the game, something he says the Storm has helped him rediscover."I wasn't feeling too well," he said."When the opportunity to go down to Melbourne came around, it sparked something and I fell in love with the game as soon as I started playing with Melbourne."

NRL fans up in arms over Melbourne Storm move ahead of finals

NRL fans are questioning the legitimacy of the Melbourne Storm's signing of Wests Tigers winger David Nofoaluma for the remainder of the season.The Storm have finally secured some help to address their mounting injury crisis, with Nofoaluma expected to join the side on loan for the remainder of the year.With season-ending injuries to Ryan Papenhuyzen, George Jennings and Reimis Smith, and winger Xavier Coates not due back from an ankle injury for another fortnight, the Melbourne club have been scouring the market for help from rival clubs.After failed bids to lure Reece Walsh from the Warriors and Josh Addo-Carr from the Bulldogs, news emerged on Wednesday that the Tigers have agreed to loan Nofoaluma to the Storm.The 28-year-old winger will play out the rest of the season with the Storm before returning to the last-placed Tigers next year, where he's under contract until the end of 2025.Nofoaluma has scored 95 tries in 175 appearances for the Tigers, including eight in 12 outings this season despite his side's poor form.However he hasn't played first grade since Round 17 and was named in the Tigers' NSW Cup side on Tuesday.Melbourne have an 11-7 season record and sit in fifth place, making it almost certain Nofoaluma will get to play finals for the first time in his nine-year career. 

Slimmed-down Maumalo ready to fire

Big Ken Maumalo had a successful first season at the Tigers, joining the club early last year from the Warriors.The giant flanker played 21 games and finished as the Tigers' top tryscorer with 15 strikes.But club officials believed Maumalo needed to be fitter and the powerhouse winger has worked hard over the summer, already losing seven kilos.A fitter Maumalo and the dangerous David Nofoaluma, who bagged 15 tries last year, will give the Tigers plenty of finishing power on the flanks in 2022.