David Nofoaluma believes that splitting ways was the wisest course of action for everybody involved, despite the fact that he still feels personally upset by the way he left. He has lost interest in both football and the Wests Tigers.
Nofoaluma ended a relationship that lasted more than ten years last month by accepting a $300,000 settlement to leave on the last two years of his contract. The highest try-scorer in club history made an embarrassing exit, choosing to go after it became clear he wouldn’t be adding to his 192 NRL appearances for the team
The veteran winger insists there is “no bad blood”, and believes the Tigers can make a run at the finals after a raft of changes on and off the field. However, he feels his reputation took an unnecessary battering during his final days in the black, white and gold.
“Obviously, it’s disappointing. It hurts me personally,” Nofoaluma told this masthead on Wednesday after signing a 12-month deal with the Salford Devils in the Super League.
“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.
“These days, rugby league is a business. If I was to give advice to any young athlete, don’t take loyalty [as an expectation].”
Nofoaluma had wanted to leave the Tigers much earlier. Two years after being named the Dally M winger of the year, he accepted a loan stint with Melbourne.
“Once I left Tigers originally to Melbourne, I felt I had left there,” he said. “As you can see, it brought my footy back to life.
“I didn’t know what to expect coming back, it was sad to come back. Once I left, I felt my time with the Tigers was done.
“Then I eventually came back and it wasn’t the same. When I left the first time, I felt like I left for good.
Leave a Reply