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David Nofoaluma (born 28 November 1993) is a professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Halifax Panthers in the RFL Championship, and internationally for both Serbia and Samoa.
He also previously played for the Melbourne Storm and the Wests Tigers and has played at representative level for the Prime Minister's XIII and New South Wales City. Nofoaluma is currently the all-time leading tryscorer and the first to reach 100 tries for the Wests Tigers.
Nofoaluma played his junior football for the Campbelltown Warriors and Campbelltown Collegians before being signed by the Wests Tigers. In 2010, he played for the Australian Schoolboys and also New South Wales U18's team. In 2011, Nofoaluma again played for the New South Wales U18's team. He played for the Tigers' NYC team in 2011 and 2012, scoring a try as a member of the 2012 Grand Final winning team. On 23 May 2012, Nofoaluma re-signed with the Tigers on a two-year contract.
In Round 20, Nofoaluma gained attention for a try he scored against the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. Leaping for a Benji Marshall cross-field bomb, Nofoaluma caught the ball before being shoved by Manly winger Jorge Tafua. With most of his body in the air over the dead-in-goal line, Nofoaluma managed to place the ball down for what was described as, "arguably the most acrobatic try of the past decade." It was awarded the Dally M Try of the Year. In total, Nofoaluma scored eight tries from his fifteen appearances in 2013, and was described as, "a revelation on the flank." Despite his limited appearances, he was sixth in the competition for tackle-busts throughout the season. He was named by Phil Gould as one of the rookies of the year.
Nofoaluma finished the regular season in the NRL's top five performers for metres gained, tackle-breaks and offloads. He led the Wests Tigers in these fields and was also their leader for line-breaks. He was the only player to play in all 24 games for Wests Tigers, scoring 8 tries. At season's end, he was named as a winger in the Rugby League Players Association Dream Team.
In June, Nofoaluma suffered a calf injury that would see him on the sideline for a month, and had to be helped from the field. He later tweeted. "Disgraced when coming off injured to hear a roosters fan in the crowd say "Nofoaluma you cunt. Your a fucking piece of shit". Hope your satisfied!!" Returning in round 18, he remained in first grade for the remainder of the season, scoring six tries from his eighteen appearances.
In round 17, he scored a hat-trick as Wests defeated Manly-Warringah 34-32 at Brookvale Oval, taking him three clear on the NRL's leading try-scorer list for the season. He was still leading the competition with 17 tries coming in to final round of the season, but was surpassed when Kyle Feldt scored 3 tries and then Alex Johnston scored 5. He was named as one of two Dally M winger of the year.
In round 18 against Brisbane, he scored his 85th and 86th try for the Wests Tigers, becoming their all-time leading try scorer, surpassing the record of 84 held by Marshall and Chris Lawrence.
Nofoaluma played in all 24 regular season games, his 13 tries the most for the club in 2021. He led the competition in offloads, completing 50, and placed 11th for tackle breaks, and 6th in runs.
In the elimination final, he played for Melbourne in their 28-20 loss against Canberra Raiders. Before the elimination final took place, Nofoaluma had the second longest finals drought of any active player. The match was Nofoaluma's last appearance for Melbourne, after making six appearances and scoring four tries, with the winger set to return to Wests Tigers for the 2023 season.
Signing a one-year deal with English side Salford, in round 5 of the 2024 Super League season, Nofoaluma made his club debut against Wigan Warriors, losing 22-12.
On 20 June, it was reported that he had left Salford after just two appearances and returned to Australia to sign for Glebe in the Ron Massey Cup where he won the Grand Final defeating Wentworthville 19-12 scoring two tries to seal the game and receiving man of the match.
On 6 December 2024, it was reported that he had signed for Baroudeurs de Pia XIII in the Super XIII.
In June 2022, Nofoaluma played his third match for , scoring four tries against the in a comfortable victory at his "home ground" of Campbelltown Stadium. With 202 metres running, nine tackle busts and two linebreaks, he was called "the star of the show".
2022
On 27 July, Nofoaluma joined Melbourne Storm on loan until the end of the season. In round 21, he made his debut for them against the Gold Coast Titans. He had his jersey (cap 224) presented to him by former Wests Tigers and Melbourne player Harry Grant.
Nofoaluma stated that when he played for the Melbourne club that he had "fallen in love with rugby league again".
2023
In round 9 of the 2023 NRL season, Nofoaluma scored his 100th try in the NRL as the Wests Tigers recorded their first victory in 273 days defeating back to back premiers Penrith 12-8.
Nofoaluma played a total of 17 games for the Wests Tigers in the 2023 NRL season as the club finished with the Wooden Spoon for a second straight year.
2024
In February, Nofoaluma accepted a $300,000 pay out by the Wests Tigers after requesting an early release from his contract. Nofoaluma had fallen out with the club and the playing group. In the coming months he spoke with the media stating that he "got over losing" with the club and that after his loan deal with Melbourne ended, that he did not want to return to the club. There was also accusations that Nofoaluma did not attend training sessions or would show up late to them.
2025
On 21 May 2025, it was reported that he had signed for Halifax Panthers in the RFL Championship until the end of the 2025 season.
International
Samoa
At the end of 2016, Nofoaluma made his international debut for , playing in an historic test match against in Apia.
Serbia
In October 2024, Nofoaluma was named in the squad for the European qualification tournament for the 2026 World Cup. He played in the match against and scored in the match against .
Statistics
*denotes season competing
+
!Year
!Team
!Games
!Tries
!Pts 2013 Wests Tigers 15 8 32 2014 15 7 28 2015 10 6 24 2016 23 14 56 2017 24 8 32 2018 18 6 24 2019 14 8 32 2020 20 17 68 2021 24 13 52 2022 12 8 32 2022 (loan) Melbourne Storm 6 4 16 2023 Wests Tigers 17 5 20 2024 2 0 0 2024-25* 12 5 20 2025 0 0 0 Totals 212 109 436
External links
target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Wests Tigers profile
Categories: 1993 Births, Living People, 21st-century Australian Sportsmen, Australian Rugby League Players, Australian Sportspeople Of Samoan Descent, Baroudeurs De Pia Xiii Players, Glebe Rugby League Players, Halifax Panthers Players, Junior Kangaroos Players, Melbourne Storm Players, New South Wales City Origin Rugby League Team Players, Prime Minister's Xiii Players, Rugby League Players From Newcastle, New South Wales, Rugby League Wingers, Salford Red Devils Players, Samoa National Rugby League Team Players, Samoan Rugby League Players, Serbia National Rugby League Team Players, Western Suburbs Magpies Nsw Cup Players, Wests Tigers Nsw Cup Players, Wests Tigers Players, Australian People Of Serbian Descent
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