Salford Red Devils flop stars in Grand Final win

Salford Red Devils flop David Nofoaluma has starred in a Grand Final win down under after his disastrous spell in England.

With Salford Red Devils losing their 2023 starting wingers in Ken Sio and Joe Burgess at late notice in the off-season, Paul Rowley’s side drafted in former Wests Tigers winger David Nofoaluma in a move that was seen as a major coup for the club.

The 30-year-old former Samoa international was a free agent after being sacked from Wests for breaches at the club with his termination coming in late January.

Just a day before the 2024 Super League campaign started, Salford announced Nofoaluma’s signing with the speedster penning a one-year deal with the Red Devils.

He would make just two appearances for the club before being cast into exile and then leaving under a cloud, something that the club never actually confirmed as they seemingly tried to forget that the signing ever happened.

He would sign a deal down under and now, months on from his ill-fated Salford spell, Nofoaluma has been pivotal in a Grand Final victory.

Salford Red Devils flop bags brace in Grand Final

On the same weekend that Salford Red Devils secured their Super League play-off status, their former star signing was scoring two tries in the Ron Massey Cup Grand Final.

Nofoaluma had signed for the Glebe Dirty Reds, a feeder club for the Sydney Roosters, and the 30-year-old’s brace was the difference as the Dirty Reds beat Wenworthville Magpies 19-6.

It marked the second year in a row that the Magpies lost the Grand Final but it was the first ever win for Glebe who had other former Super League men playing for them.

Dean Whare and Kane Evans both featured with Evans another overseas player who didn’t see out his contract in England with Hull FC getting rid of the forward midway through 2023.

Speaking on the win, Nofoaluma told nswrl.com.au : “I played 11 years of my NRL career here so it’s still part of me – I have a lot of history here

“To be able to come here and play a grand final with Glebe Dirty Reds, we all had something individual to play for.

“The thing I like about this group is that each player, especially the young ones, were keen to learn from us experienced players.

“They ask questions and that’s what you want. We all did this as a team.”