TIGER TO CALM STORM CRISIS
MELBOURNE’S desperate bid to secure an outside back looks to have finally ended with the Storm set to sign Wests Tigers flyer David Nofoaluma.
The Storm has been scrambling to add an outside back to its depleted backline after a stack of recent injuries.
Nofoaluma looks likely to answer the SOS call after telling teammates of his plans on Tuesday. The 28-year-old has had a turbulent 2022 season, having battled concussion and spending a stint in reserve grade after being dropped for drinking while recovering from injury. He has been out of the top squad in recent weeks.
The Storm has been desperately looking to sign an outside back before the August 1 trade window closes. The club has been linked to Nofoaluma’s Tigers teammates, including Daine Laurie, Adam Doueihi and Ken Maumalo, and Penrith’s Robert Jennings. The Storm also sounded out ex-Melbourne flyer Josh Addo-Carr and departing Warrior Reece Walsh but was knocked back by the respective clubs.
At his best, Nofoaluma is among the top finishers in the game, having scored a clubrecord 95 tries from 175 matches.
He is expected to link with the Storm this week and be right to play in the round 21 clash against the Titans next week.
Nofoaluma is contracted to the Tigers until the end of 2025 on a deal worth about $500,000. Letting him go for the back end of the season not only saves the Tigers about $100,000 but will also potentially expose Nofoaluma to finals football for the first time in his decade-long career.
The Storm injury toll includes Ryan Papenhuyzen, Reimis Smith, George Jennings and Xavier Coates.