Wests Tigers confirm ugly David Nofoaluma divorce amid Benji Marshall claim

The Wests Tigers have confirmed the club's greatest ever tryscorer has been unceremoniously dumped from the club.

David Nofoaluma and Benji Marshall.

The Wests Tigers have confirmed they’ve released veteran winger David Nofoaluma from the final two years of his contract.

Rookie coach Benji Marshall has faced an early baptism of fire but the out-of-favour Nofoaluma has accepted the club’s offer to buy out his contract for $300,000.

Stream Over 50 Sports Live & On-Demand with Kayo. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial Today >

It looked like the 30-year-old’s days at the club were numbered and he was reportedly summoned to front the team’s new-look board on Wednesday.

The Tigers then released a statement on Tuesday night which said the parties and had agreed to terminate the contract by mutual consent, effective immediately.

“We thank David for all that he has given to this club over the past decade,” interim Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson said.

“We wish David all the very best with his future.”

✌🏽 pic.twitter.com/bDoOoSojma

— David Nofoaluma (@DNofoaluma) January 9, 2024

The Sydney Morning Herald’s Michael Chammas first reported Nofoaluma had been served a termination letter and he has now departed the club effective immediately.

It comes after Nofoaluma was reportedly issued a second breach notice in a month, having first been sanctioned by the club for turning up late to an official pre-season training session.

This time around The Herald reported that the latest sanction came after he “failed to adhere to club protocols when it comes to missing training due to illness”.

Nofoaluma is said to have suffered a bout of gastro and told a club official he would not be able to attend a training session last Monday as a result.

The club’s doctor reportedly tried to get in touch with Nofoaluma over the next 48 hours but was unsuccessful and they were not the only one according to The Herald, with the report adding there were “numerous attempts by several people to contact him”.

With no response, the Tigers are said to have sent a player to Nofoaluma’s house to check on his welfare.

David Nofoaluma and Benji Marshall.

That is only the start of the drama though, with The Herald reporting Nofoaluma has made allegations to the Rugby League Players’ Association that Marshall told him he would not play first grade again if he remained at the club.

Not only that, but Nofoaluma is also said to have sought legal advice over the matter and will likely attend the meeting with the Tigers’ board with the RLPA’s solicitor.

It is not the first time the Tigers have found themselves at the centre of an ugly drama including a club veteran, with former coach Jason Taylor telling legendary hooker Robbie Farah in 2016 that if he stayed with the team he would be doing so in reserve grade.

Former NRL player Justin Horo spoke on Nofoaluma’s potential split from the Tigers last December, suggesting his time at Melbourne was the “beginning of the end” for the winger.

“They loaned him to Melbourne for a finals run because the Tigers were out of contention as they have been for a number of years,” Horo said on SEN Radio.

“He has State of Origin potential, he carries the ball really well, but defensively he has had a lot of issues like most wingers.

“He goes down to Melbourne and he immerses himself in a great system, everyone buys in and everyone does their job.

“He starts scoring tries and remember, he wasn’t scoring tries for the Tigers before he went down there.

“He then plays finals footy which he hadn’t done ever.

“He comes back to the Tigers and there’s just been issues ever since and Benji Marshall would have a really good relationship with David.

“The last thing you need is one player not buying in and David Nofoaluma is clearly not happy.

“I think it might be time for Nofoaluma to move on and it really coincides with his time down in Melbourne.

“He is looking for a fresh start and he was really happy down there.

“I think it’s best for all parties to move on.”

Originally published as Wests Tigers confirm ugly David Nofoaluma divorce amid Benji Marshall claim