David Nofoaluma can’t wait for Saturday’s game against Newcastle at Campbelltown.
No, it’s not because of that incredible try he scored against Manly two seasons ago.
Well, it’s that but also because this rising rugby league star is Campbelltown through and through.
“Mate, I love it. It’s my home town, I grew up here, I played all my junior football at Campbelltown Sports Stadium, including grand finals and it just feels like home.
“All that comes into play and is very exciting.
“Plus a lot of people I know will come to the games at Campbelltown, family and friends.
“It’s really special and I lift when we play here,’’ says the boom winger, who is still only 21.
He turns 22 later this year and admits he is growing in confidence.
The team has also been winning the last couple of weeks and Nofoaluma has been shining but without getting the credit.
But when you’ve got someone like his buddy James “Teddy’’ Tedesco playing out of his skin – without a doubt the form fullback of the NRL – it’s hard to be noticed.
Not that Nofoaluma is complaining.
A level headed, polite young man, Nofoaluma knows it’s a team game and everyone has to play their part.
He and Teddy became close when they went through the South West Academy of Sport rugby league development squad together when they were 14-15.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“It’s funny now, Teddy was on the wing and I was playing fullback but as we got older I went to wing and he went to fullback,’’ Nofoaluma says.[/social_quote]
“I am not complaining, wing is my preferred position,’’ he adds.
I ask him how he relaxes away from footy, if he has any hobbies.
When I add, “maybe an interest in music considering your Samoan background’’ he starts laughing.
“I’m the only one in my family who doesn’t have music in them,’’ he says.
“But then again I’m the only one in the family who can play footy,’’ he says with a grin.
“Away from the footy I do a lot of activities, get together with mates, we play golf, tennis, that sort of thing.’’
How do you find Jason Taylor as a coach, the second one in your NRL career so far?
“Yes, he’s been good, he’s taught me a lot of new things, about how to be professional, plus he’s made feel comfortable talking to him if anything’s wrong.
“He’s shown me that if you get the off field stuff right, the on field will take care of itself.’’
Nofoaluma says he would love to end up playing for the Wests Tigers his entire career, especially if the club can keep the current crop of talented youngsters together and a premiership ring comes along at some stage.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“I get on really well with the likes of Teddy, Mitch (Moses) and Luke Brooks, 13 of us were born in the 1990s and we all get along so hopefully from a club’s perspective they will keep us together if they can,’’ he says.[/social_quote]
Finally, I ask him about that try, which on the morning of our interview had attracted a total 288,000 views on YouTube, easily a record for an NRL four pointer.
This is how it plays out: It’s a Monday night game against Manly and Benji Marshall kicks the ball high into the corner; out of nowhere comes a leaping David Nofoaluma.
The first thing is he takes an incredible mark under pressure from the Manly defender, George Tofua.
There aren’t any better marks in AFL, that’s good his take is.
Then Tofua is pushing an airborne Nofoaluma out into touch but somehow the Tigers winger stretches out his hands and plants the ball for four points.
The try is referred to the video referee, who eventually gives it the green light.
But in the meantime Manly players are walking around dumbfounded with what they just saw, while even Nofoaluma’s teammates seem bewildered by his effort. Not much celebrating is going on.
“I don’t even know what I did,’’ says Nofoaluma when we ask him his thoughts.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“From playing a lot of footy my reactions have gotten quicker but when I was up in the air everything seemed in slow motion,’’ he says.[/social_quote]
“Yes, for sure, I would love to do it again and to do it at my home ground at Campbelltown.’’
What do you think of David’s try? Is it possibly the greatest try of all time? Have a look at it and let us know what you think.
