Veteran Wests Tigers winger David Nofoaluma is set to join the Melbourne Storm for the remainder of 2022 on a loan deal, The Daily Telegraph reported this morning.
Melbourne’s search of short-term outside back cover was well-documents with reports that they made plays for Daine Laurie and Josh Addo-Carr surfacing in recent days.
Long-term injuries to Ryan Papenhuyzen, Reimis Smith, George Jennings and Xavier Coates have left Melbourne in urgent need of outside back cover with the likes of Dean Ieremia, Marion Seve, Grant Anderson and Tyran Wishart spending time in the backline in recent weeks.
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The Storm currently sit at fifth on the competition ladder with 11 wins from 18 games but are in the midst of their first four-game losing streak in over seven years.
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Nofoaluma has spent time with the Western Suburbs Magpies in the Knock-On Effect NSW Cup at different stages this season and has not been named in Wests Tigers NRL side for the past three weeks.
The 28-year-old debuted with the Wests Tigers in 2013 and has played in 175 games scoring a club-record 95 tries.
He made his international debut for Sāmoa in 2016 and became the first Sāmoan ever to score four tries in a Test match earlier this year.
In 12 appearances this season, Nofoaluma has averaged 116 run metres, broken 45 tackles, and scored eight tries.
His yardage and finishing work have long been staples of his game, however, concerns surrounding his defensive chops have often haunted him.
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He is contracted with the Wests Tigers until the end of 2025 and is set to return to the club for next season.
Nofoaluma is expected to line-up for the Storm in their Round 21 clash against the Titans.
