Salford has bolstered their squad depth just before the start of the new Super League season by signing former Wests Tigers winger David Nofoaluma on a 12-month contract.
Reports from Australia emerged overnight revealing that Nofoaluma was set to join the Red Devils, following an interview with News Corp where he confirmed the move to England. Salford has been eager to strengthen their wing position after losing Ken Sio and Joe Burgess for different reasons during the off-season.
According to Love Rugby League, discussions with Nofoaluma have been ongoing for up to two months, starting from the beginning of pre-season. While Salford was initially considering options to strengthen their pack, they shifted their focus to securing the deal with Nofoaluma, believing that utilizing a quota spot on a talented attacking player would be more beneficial.
Red Devils head coach Paul Rowley confirmed in his weekly press conference on Wednesday that David Nofoaluma was on his way to Salford, stating, “His CV is very impressive. We lost Joe and Ken during pre-season, who have been fantastic for us over the years and generally are at the forefront of everything that has been good for Salford.”
Rowley expressed confidence in the players they have brought in, including Ethan Ryan and Nofoaluma, who will join shortly, as well as Chris Hankinson, noting that they have added quality to the backline and increased depth. He added, “We’re really happy with how that’s looking with the addition of David.”
However, Salford had planned to announce Nofoaluma’s signing on their own terms later on Wednesday and were surprised when they woke up to the news that he had announced his transfer himself.
Rowley jokingly mentioned, “I think I got in the gym at six o’clock this morning and a Salford fan told me that one! I’m not going to sit here and lie to you, it looks like David will be coming over in the foreseeable.”
The influence of Krisnan Inu
Nofoaluma’s arrival comes on a relatively inexpensive deal, largely due to a substantial payout he received from the Tigers, believed to be around $300,000. This payout reduced his salary demands, making it easier for Salford to strike a deal, especially as the club has been facing challenges being placed into special measures.
Another crucial aspect of the deal was the involvement of Red Devils assistant Krisnan Inu. Rowley explained, “David was one of those, in particularly his relationship with Kris Inu… Kris’ relationship on both sides of the world has been really advantageous to us.” The club had been in talks with many players, but some moves were blocked by the measures in place. However, Inu’s relationship with Nofoaluma played a significant role in finalizing the deal.
Salford is hopeful that Nofoaluma, who scored 100 NRL tries for the Tigers, will be available for their game against Castleford next week. Although the initial deal is for one year, both parties are satisfied with the contract length, and Nofoaluma is seen as a player with a point to prove after his departure from Wests. While he had better offers, his relationship with Inu was a deciding factor. Nofoaluma aims to enjoy his rugby at Salford and hopes to earn further contracts in the future.
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