NRL 2024: David Nofoaluma departs Wests Tigers after accepting $300k payout following termination letter

David Nofoaluma’s time at the Wests Tigers has come to an end, after reportedly accepting a shock payout to leave the club after being handed a termination letter.

Nofoaluma was handed termination letter and was due to front a board meeting on Wednesday. Picture: Getty Images

David Nofoaluma has played his final game for the Wests Tigers after accepting a $300,000 payout to leave the club – but hasn’t given up hope of playing in the NRL this season.

The decision to walk away ends months of infighting between Nofoaluma and coaching staff, amid a claim of ‘unfair treatment’ by the 30-year old.

The 198-game veteran was issued with a show cause notice last week and due to front the new-look Tigers board on Wednesday night after he was given five days to respond.

It’s believed Nofoaluma was issued with the show cause notice after failing to comply with club protocols when he called in sick from training last Monday.

Rather than risk being sacked by the board at Wednesday’s scheduled meeting, Nofoaluma, who is on $525,000 a season, instead agreed to walk away from the final two years of his deal with a six-figure sum.

While Nofoaluma’s immediate future is uncertain, the 30-year old is confident his playing career in the NRL is not over.

David Nofoaluma has played his last game for the Wests Tigers, after accepting a $300k payout to leave the club immediately.

Interim CEO Shane Richardson confirmed Nofoaluma’s contract had been terminated by ‘mutual consent’ on Tuesday evening.

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

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

Nofoaluma will now explore options both in the NRL and in the English Super League in a bid to find a new home in 2024.

Last Monday, Nofoaluma notified the club he was too sick to report to training that day. When the club medical staff reached out to check in on him but were unable to reach Nofoaluma for two days.

The latest development comes after Nofoaluma refused to report to training last month due to what he claimed to be unfair treatment by Tigers coaching staff.

Nofoaluma returned to training two weeks later after a number of meetings with the RLPA and the Tigers.

Prior to his no-show in December, it’s believed on Nofoaluma’s first day back at pre-season training he was informed by rookie coach Benji Marshall that he would not be considered for selection in the NRL side.

Nofoaluma was handed termination letter and was due to front a board meeting on Wednesday. Picture: Getty Images

The Tigers have had a series of meetings with Nofoaluma in recent months in a bid to resolve issues between the player and coaching staff but have been able to come to a workable solution for either party.

For the Tigers, Nofoaluma’s decision to walk away is set to free-up around $700,000 in salary cap money.

Had the stalemate between the parties been resolved sooner, it could have given the club a better shot at keeping rising outside back star Junior Tupou beyond 2024.

Tupou, a Tongan international who was a bright spot in an otherwise dire season in 2023, slipped through the Tigers’ fingers after he agreed to join the Dolphins on a three-year deal from 2025.

Before parting ways on Tuesday, the Tigers had been trying to offload Nofoaluma to a rival outfit in the past two years.

Nofoaluma joined the Melbourne Storm on a loan agreement at the back end of 2022, where he played five regular season games and made his first ever finals appearance.

At the time, Melbourne had shown interest in keeping Nofoaluma beyond the loan period but the move was knocked back by Tigers recruitment staff.

And with the emergence of gun rookie winger Will Warbrick, Melbourne quickly moved on from their pursuit of Nofoaluma.

Nofoaluma leaves the Tigers just two games shy of reaching his 200-game milestone, scoring a club record 100 tries.

Originally published as NRL 2024: David Nofoaluma departs Wests Tigers after accepting $300k payout following termination letter