Wests Tigers star David Nofoaluma refuses to train over claims of mistreatment under coaching staff

The Wests Tigers have held urgent talks with veteran winger David Nofoaluma over his refusal to train since last week, citing ‘unfair treatment’ under coach Benji Marshall.

David Nofoaluma is refusing to train at the Wests Tigers.

The Wests Tigers have held urgent talks with veteran winger David Nofoaluma to resolve issues that have been escalated to the club’s welfare department.

Nofoaluma has refused to train since last Wednesday under rookie coach Benji Marshall due to what the 30-year-old claims is unfair treatment.

Wests Tigers coaching staff are putting it down to “mixed communication over the expectations placed on Nofoaluma”.

Other sources with intimate knowledge of the situation suggest that Nofoaluma is struggling and is at a crossroads in his career.

However, the experienced winger felt so aggrieved that he engaged the club’s welfare department, while reports have also surfaced that the Rugby League Players Association have been informed of the matter.

Members of the Wests Tigers coaching staff met with Nofoaluma on Thursday night in a bid to resolve the issue.

There’s an anticipation that he will resume training on Monday.

The matter continues a chequered past few years for Nofoaluma, which has included him being repeatedly shopped to rival clubs, while also being part of a loan deal to the Melbourne Storm in 2022.

At the time, Nofoaluma described the six-game stint as “one of the best things of my career”.

The 2020 Dally M winger of the year played 17-games for the Tigers in 2023 and is off-contract at the end of 2025.