Blake Ferguson

has no respect for rugby league and brings nothing but negative publicity to the game and now he is going to cheapin aussie boxing into yet another low, I spose aussie boxing cant sink any lower, they will find some avge joe to fight him and in a worse case scenario pay him to take a dive (be surprised how common it happens in oz boxing going rate is $10-20k)
 
Troubled NRL star Blake Ferguson fighting to get his family back after grandparents fallout



BLAKE Ferguson's biggest battle is not avoiding concussion in his professional boxing debut, or avoiding jail time for the indecent assault allegation hanging over him, or even being re-registered by the NRL.

His battle is a lot closer to home."I want to get my family back on side," Ferguson says, revealing how he is no longer on speaking terms with the two people who he has credited for his sporting success.

Ferguson’s "grandparents" Rex and Joan Sutherland, who raised him in Wellington after the Department of Community Services took him from maternal mother Retta Ferguson when he was 13, cut off ties with the 23-year-old following his arrest for the alleged indecent assault before State of Origin II in June.

"It’s tough man, my grandparents, pop, I haven’t spoken to them since," Ferguson said."It is still going to take time, it is going to be a long ride. Hopefully in the next few months it will come back to normal.

"I have cleaned my act up, I am responsible for my role in the family, it is something that I’ve actually had to think about so it’s good."I want to show them that I am on the right path again, and that I am responsible for my actions instead of acting like I don’t give a **** about anything. I actually do care.”

Just three weeks before the falling out, Ferguson publicly praised the effect of the Sutherlands in the pages of The Daily Telegraph, including how his "pop" had set him straight after previous indiscretions.

Ferguson had said then: "That chat with pop, it really started to change things for me because it made me realise how, really, when I stuffed up it wasn’t me that was hurting the most. It was them. My family."The couple of times I got in trouble after that, I really got down because I knew how they’d be feeling.

"It hurts because I know I wouldn’t be here right now without them."How did it now come to this, for one of the most talented league players in the world?

Ferguson, who was sacked by his club Canberra last month, prefaces his response by saying: "People will read this and think it’s a sob story but it’s not."

"I was seeing counsellors twice a week, going up and back from Sydney three times a week doing promos for young kids, training kids to play basketball, training kids to play footy, that’s when I got in trouble," he said.

"I was working close to 30 hours a week with young kids, helping them out, I was boxing training as well. It was taking a toll on me.

"When I went back to Canberra for that week, I just thought: 'No, I am burnt out here, I need a rest'."My dad was coming out of jail, I had to help him out, I had family problems, I split up with my manager, everything mate, everything just had a spiralling effect.

"I’ve got these two court cases now (indecent assault and disqualified driving charges), which are pretty serious.

"You think everyone is against you, the media comes out saying I am an ungrateful human, and they don’t know the full story."I went from the top of the world down to the dumps. I went from being an Origin footy star to a wharfie."

If not for the unwavering support of his cousin Anthony Mundine, Ferguson hates to think where he might be now.

Preparing for his first professional fight as a boxer on the undercard of Mundine’s bout with Shane Mosley next Wednesday night in Sydney, Ferguson said: "Luckily Choc (Mundine) is strong, he persevered with me, because a lot of family gave up on me.

"I fell into the wrong crowd. If you think about it, growing up with nothing, I was taking advantage of what I was getting."I was getting big coin, I’m talking lots of money, and I went from that to earning shrapnel."It was an eye-opener for me, it has made me want this more.

"It was lucky I had Choc there by my side, he helped me a lot, he taught me a lot of things I never knew, life lessons."

And as for his fight opponent Luke Turner, who has already been talking about knocking out the league star, Ferguson said: "He can say whatever he wants, he will find out on the day."It’s a good opportunity, it’s not every day you get to fight on the undercard of a big stage like Mundine vs Mosley.

"I will let my hands do the talking."It has been a tough few months, but boxing has given me a new lease on life.

"I’ve come from working on the wharf, I’ve never had to work much in life, I had to work growing up for food and stuff, but to actually do this to live off and pay the bills, it was an eye-opener.

"It made me want to come back, train, do everything I love like play footy. It gave me the hunger again."I did lose a little bit of hunger when I was playing, it probably didn’t show on the field but it showed outside of football.

"I was just falling into the wrong environments, just playing up, and not giving a good image for the game."There are young kids that follow the game and I probably wasn’t setting the best example.

"I looked at myself and decided to sort myself out and come back to be the best role model that I can be."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...dparents-fallout/story-fni3fbgz-1226742528252
 
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I see they have picked out a tough opponent for him, a bush footy player who has had one amateur boxing fight(which was a draw) and he only took up boxing last month for fun ! ..should be a tough fight fergo ...ill be goin for the underdog !
 
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Controversial boxer Anthony Mundine has converted NRL bad boy Blake Ferguson to Islam



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Troubled NRL star Blake Ferguson pictured with Anthony Mundine at a mosque in Sydney. The former Canberra Raiders player has converted to Islam. Source: Supplied


TROUBLED rugby league star Blake Ferguson has been converted to Islam by controversial boxer Anthony Mundine.

The NRL bad boy made the commitment to his new Islamic faith at Zetland Mosque on Friday, hoping it can help to save his ailing career.

The State of Origin star was photographed praying beside Mundine, who also converted rugby league superstar Sonny Bill Williams to the Muslim faith five years ago when Williams was going through a difficult period in his life.

Ferguson declined to comment yesterday, saying: "It's private. I can't talk about it, I'm sorry."

Ferguson has previously vowed to give up alcohol - as required by the Muslim faith - but failed.


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Koder Nasser, Anthony Mundine and Blake Ferguson. Picture Gregg Porteous Source: News Limited


​
Mundine revealed that the sacked and now unemployed Canberra Raiders star had been asking him about converting for almost six weeks.

"He's thought about it and it's a commitment he wants to make," Mundine said. "But it's up to Blake to speak about it when he's ready.

"He's just looking forward to changing his direction in life. At the moment he's in good space - no drinking, no drugs, no parties.

"He's got the colour back in his face. He wants to be a better person but he'll still have his faults, like we all do."

Ferguson's rugby league career has been in limbo for several months after he was dumped by the Raiders over a number of off-field incidents.

He is facing charges of indecent assault on a woman at a Cronulla nightspot and was also caught speeding and driving while suspended before having his $400,000 NRL contract terminated.

This was after he was disciplined the Raiders earlier in the season for drinking on a roof with team mate Josh Dugan.


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Blake Ferguson, Kodar Nasser, Anthony Mundine and Phil Rothfield in Anthony Mundine’s Redfern Gym. Picture Gregg Porteous Source: News Limited



The player, who was once earning $400,000-a-year, is living at Mundine's Hurstville home with the boxer and his mum.

When Sonny Bill Williams' life went off the rails and he was battling alcohol-related incidents in 2008, Mundine intervened in a similar way.

He lent the Roosters grand final hero $700,000 for the legal costs of breaking his contract and paying out the Bulldogs - then persuaded him to take up the Muslim faith.

He is now a $1 million-a-year superstar in NRL and rugby union.



http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/controversial-boxer-anthony-mundine-has-converted-nrl-bad-boy-blake-ferguson-to-islam/story-fni3fbgz-1226756644983
 
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Boxing keeps Ferguson out of trouble

By Adrian Warren
AAP
5:24pm Mon 18th November, 2013

Blake Ferguson has credited the rigours of boxing training for keeping him out of the trouble he believes cost him a place in Australia's Rugby League World Cup squad.

Without an NRL contract for 2014 after being sacked by Canberra, the classy back will make his heavyweight boxing debut on the undercard of the Anthony Mundine-Shane Mosley fight in Sydney on November 27.

Ferguson was dumped by the Raiders in September after failing to front the board following breaches of the club's code of conduct.

He has also had to deal with two court cases regarding charges of indecent assault and driving indiscretions.

Ferguson was thrown out of the NSW State of Origin squad following a drinking session with another former Raiders star, Josh Dugan.

His off-field indiscretions wrecked any chance he had of playing in the World Cup now being contested in Europe.

"If I wouldn't have played up, I reckon I would have been over there as an emu (a fringe squad member) ... supporting the boys," Ferguson said.

He would like to play in the NRL in 2014 but his league career is in limbo.

"I think it's all up to the (NRL) integrity unit, they are the guys that are running the show there," Ferguson said.

"I'm waiting to hear back from them and we'll go from there.

"The last time I spoke to (the integrity unit) was about a month ago. I think it's just up to the court case next month."

Ferguson said he had found boxing harder than rugby league because it was an individual calling rather than a team sport.

"Waking up early in the morning has been pretty tough," Ferguson said.

"It's been awesome, though. It got me out of trouble, so it's a good thing.

"It's been pretty good staying out of trouble, staying out of nightclubs and that, just chilling."

He expects to enter the ring about his NRL playing weight of just more than 100 kilograms.

Ferguson wasn't sure whether he would fight Luke Turner, the man he was meant to face before the Mundine-Mosley promotion scheduled for October 23 was cancelled.

He dismissed rumours he would have pulled out of the fight had it gone ahead on that date and confirmed his participation in next week's promotion.

"Whoever the matchmaker picks, I'll fight. I'll try and knock them out," Ferguson said.


http://www.nrl.com/boxing-keeps-ferguson-out-of-trouble/tabid/10874/newsid/75443/default.aspx
 
Shane Shackleton doesn't see funny side of Blake Ferguson's boxing foray



Reduced to hosting comedy nights and manual labour as he strives to find a new club, former NRL funny man Shane Shackleton simply cannot appreciate the lighter side of Blake Ferguson's pro boxing debut next week.

"I'd love to fight him," Shackleton said. "To me it just all seems a bit flippant.

"I look at someone like Blake, with all the talent and opportunity in the world, and he just seems to be intent on wasting it all.

"To be honest that ****es me off a little bit, because so many players work so hard and get nothing.

"It's hard to watch someone so naturally gifted take it for granted."

From City Origin honours in 2009, Shackleton has not been sighted in first grade since midway through 2012.

In the meantime he's won the NSW Cup Player of the Year and equivalent award for Mounties last season, but has started pre-season training in solitude despite the fact several NRL clubs are desperate for depth up front.

The days of Shackleton's hilarious impersonations of ex-Eels team mate Fuifui Moimoi grabbing regular laughs on The Footy Show are long gone.

To make ends meet the ginger-haired prop been MC-ing events, including comedy nights, while staying fit through some pad work of his own.

Boxing drills at Liverpool PCYC enticed the 31-year-old into the ring for a four-round charity bout last Saturday night.

In the absence of any offers, he's keen to go further - starting opposite fellow novice Ferguson on the undercard on next Wednesday night's Anthony Mundine-Shane Mosley fight at Acer Arena.

"I actually like Blake as a bloke from when we played together at Mounties this year, but it's clear they are just going to put some nuffie in there to make him look good," Shackleton said.

"It would be more credible to take on someone with the same background - and a big point to prove."


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ons-boxing-foray/story-fni3gfvk-1226765594468
 
Wouldn't mind us picking up Shane Shackelton for a little bit to bolster our NSW cup side or may even crack a bench spot in first grade.
 
Inglis tells Ferguson self discipline is needed to ensure his talent is not wasted



On the other side of the world Greg Inglis yesterday issued troubled NRL star Blake Ferguson some sound advice: "You can make this life whatever you choose".

As Inglis prepared to go head-to-head with Sonny Bill Williams and Scotland's Danny Brough for the title of International Rugby League Player of the Year that will be awarded today in Manchester, the Kangaroos' superstar opened up and in a wideranging interview talked about the turning point in his own career _ and why it is now up to Ferguson to save himself.

Asked if he would want Ferguson at South Sydney next year given the Rabbitohs needs for a strike centre, Inglis said: "We do need a centre, Blake is available and I am always about giving people chances.

"I know Blake personally but I don't know what is going on in his personal life."Obviously he has some issues there that he has to deal with and obviously he has done that with Choc (Mundine).

"But for Fergo, I just think he has to really stay on track and really aim to find a club but that is only if he wants it."In regards to Souths, that's not my place to say.

"He has all the talent in the world, there is no doubt about it."But you can have all the talent but you have got to also have that attitude and self discipline and respect.

"You can make this life whatever you choose."

Asked if he would be prepared to help Ferguson resurrect his career, Inglis added: "You can put your hand up to help him but you can only help a person so much.

"We have had a couple of young guys come through in the same situation but in the end they just didn't want to work to the culture we have.

Earlier this year rugby league Immortal Bob Fulton hailed Ferguson as a superstar in the making after he described his phenomenal matchwinning effort against Melbourne as "a Greg Inglis like performance".

But as Inglis explained, all the talent in the world won't get you to the top if not prepared to do the hard work.

"Even Craig Bellamy will tell you, my first year at Melbourne wasn't the greatest. I didn't create the greatest impression with Craig but fortunately for me he gave me a second chance and invited me down the next season.

"Training wise I wasn't the best but I learnt along the way talent only takes you so far.

"He gave me plenty of serves but I can see now that he just wanted the best from me and in the end it was up to me.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...nt-is-not-wasted/story-fni3fbgz-1226769896658
 
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Troubled NRL star Blake Ferguson to appear in court on Wednesday



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Blake Ferguson, leaving Waverley court after he was charged with indecent assault on June 17.Source: News Limited



WHAT'S left of Blake Ferguson's NRL career could be determined within the next 72 hours.

The former NSW State of Origin plater will appear in Sutherland local court on Wednesday where he is expected to defend an indecent assault charge.

Ferguson's career has been in limbo ever since a night out to celebrate his Origin II selection on June 16 at a Cronulla night spot resulted in him being charged by Police for allegedly touching a woman between her legs.

Ferguson has pleaded not guilty to the charge, but subsequent disciplinary breaches of the Canberra Raiders code of conduct, including failing to attend game and training sessions, led to his sacking from the club last September.

Seeking counsel and the direction of his uncle, Anthony Mundine, Ferguson has since turned to boxing and the Islamic faith.

Ferguson has claimed previously the decision to choose Islam was in order to gain control of his life and a battle with alcohol.

"Alcohol is completely forbidden in Islam," Ferguson said, "and that's been my problem for the last five years.

"It's brought me down to where I am now. I enjoyed a drink but it just creates problems. I've had enough."I really have."

He also declared that he wants to continue boxing despite going down to excavator Luke Turner in his debut on the undercard of Mundine's recent victory over Shane Mosely.

A supremely gifted athlete, there is no guarantee Ferguson's future in the NRL will exist even if he escapes the serious charge on Wednesday.

Ferguson has been required to attend regular meetings with the NRL welfare unit, but they will only register a contract if they believe he can return without bringing the game into any further disrepute.

"The integrity unit continues to keep contact with Blake throughout the process,'' NRL chief operating officer Jim Doyle said.

"We will be closely monitoring the proceedings.

"The NRL has reserved any position in relation to the charge until after the facts can be established in court.''

Wednesday's court hearing will attract the interest of several NRL clubs who are considering taking a risk in signing Ferguson, including New Zealand, South Sydney and Cronulla.

There has been increasing speculation within league circles that the Rabbitohs are favourites to secure his signature, if they hadn't already.

But the NRL denied Ferguson had signed a deal with any club.

"We have not received a registration application from any club at this stage for next year,'' Doyle said.

Ferguson's hearing is set down for four days.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...urt-on-wednesday/story-fni3fbgz-1226777824350
 
BREAKING NEWS: BLAKE FERGUSON FOUND GUILTY OF INDECENT ASSAULT ON A WOMAN

Fox Sports News has reported that Ferguson has been found guilty and will be sentenced at a later date.

I would say this is the end of Ferguson's NRL Career for the immediate future at least.

More To Come...
 
I hope Ferguson goes no where after this. Most disrespectful human being that has played NRL and I hope he rots in jail if he is sentenced.
 
League star Blake Ferguson says he thought woman was someone he'd 'hooked up' with earlier that night




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Blake Ferguson arrives at Sutherland Court charged with indecent assault and common assault. Picture: John Appleyard Source: News Limited


TROUBLED rugby league star Blake Ferguson claims his indecent assault case was all a case of mistaken identity caused by bad nightclub lighting.

Giving evidence in Sutherland Local Court, the ex Canberra Raiders player said he thought the woman he allegedly groped in Cronulla nightclub 2230 was another woman he'd "hooked up" with earlier in the night.

Police prosecutor Richard Mansley told the court Ferguson, 23, had made up the story.

The woman, who can't legally be named, claims Ferguson allegedly squeezed her vagina firmly for "two to three seconds" on the outside of her clothes and then "laughed at me", the court heard.

The incident allegedly occurred about 10.30pm on June 16 when Ferguson was on a night out with former teammate Josh Dugan to celebrate their selection to the NSW State of Origin team.

Ferguson told the court he had kissed and touched a blonde woman at local pub Northies earlier in the evening and was "embarrassed to say I don't remember her name".

He told the court he thought he saw the woman at 2230 and went to touch her in a similar manner only to find it was a different person.

"I turned around and looked behind me and I thought I saw the girl I met from Northies," Ferguson told the court.

"I went to touch her on the upper inner thigh."

The alleged victim pushed Ferguson away and started yelling at him.

"I was wondering why she hit me because I was doing it to her at Northies," Ferguson told the court.

"I'd like to say sorry ... I would never touch (the woman) in a sexual way," Ferguson told the court.

"I'm really sorry I mistook her for the girl I touched at Northies."

In cross examining Ferguson, Mr Mansley told the court of the CCTV footage of the alleged incident.Mr Mansley then asked: "Mr Ferguson is that something you've just made up this very second?"

Ferguson said his explanation was true and that he "did not touch her on the vagina".

The prosecutor told the court the CCTV footage showed the lighting in the club was not dark and he would have been able to see the woman.

Ferguson said he had been the club more than "100" times and it was darker in real life.Ferguson's ex Raiders teammate Josh Dugan gave evidence and told the court the pair were showered with attention from patrons at both establishments.

When asked by Ferguson's lawyer Adam Houda if there was "no shortage of girls making advancements", Dugan replied: "not at all".

Earlier Ferguson's lawyer told the court the former Canberra Raider only touched a woman "on the upper thigh" and not on the vagina.In questioning the woman, Mr Houda told the court the woman had embellished the incident in her statements to police.

"I suggest he touched you on the upper thigh in that region," Mr Houda told the court.

"He touched your thigh (but he) certainly didn't touch you on the vagina."

The woman refuted the claim and told the court Houda's statement was "not true" and that Ferguson "touched me on the vagina".

"He laughed at me," the woman told the court when asked what Ferguson said after she pushed him away.

Dugan was also at court to give evidence.

The court was played CCTV footage from inside the club which showed Ferguson and Dugan socialising with the alleged victim and others.

Ferguson can be seen grabbing another woman by the head as she tries to walk away before pulling her in to a bear hug.

The woman slaps him and he slaps her back, the CCTV footage showed.Ferguson then turns to the alleged victim who is standing against a wall in the club.

The camera was partially obstructed but the two come together before the woman pushes Ferguson away.It is at this point the woman claimed Ferguson allegedly indecently assaulted her for "two to three seconds".

Mr Houda disputed the length of time saying the incident occurred in "less than a second", the court heard.

The court heard the woman had been to Cronulla pub Northies in the hours prior to the alleged incident where she had three or four vodkas, a schooner of cider and a couple of vodka shots.

The woman denied being heavily intoxicated saying she drank water in between alcoholic drinks.

The woman also denied knowing Ferguson was a football and State of Origin player.She denied noticing people asking Ferguson for photos despite CCTV footage capturing her "photo bombing" one of the shots.

"I didn't know he was a football star," she told the court.

Mr Houda suggested to the woman she didn't "want to be seen as a person who is trying to take advantage of a person with a high profile".

The woman told the court: "I am not doing that".

DNA swabs were taken from the woman's clothes but didn't test positive for Ferguson's DNA.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/league-star-blake-ferguson-says-he-thought-woman-was-someone-hed-hooked-up-with-earlier-that-night/story-fni0cx4q-1226780631653

- - - Updated - - -

Ex-NRL player Blake Ferguson found guilty of indecent assault prior to State of Origin II




Former Canberra Raider Blake Ferguson has been found guilty of the indecent assault of a woman at a Cronulla nightclub earlier in the year.

The incident in question happened during a June 16 night out with New South Wales Origin team-mate Josh Dugan on the eve of a Blues team camp preparing for the second game of this year's series.

The ruling comes after the 24-year-old woman involved denied on Wednesday being intoxicated when Ferguson approached her in the 2230 Bar and Restaurant and squeezed her vagina firmly.

Ferguson had pleaded not guilty and said it was all a case of mistaken identity, believing the victim to be a woman he had been kissing earlier in the night.

He also said he touched her on the upper inside of her thigh, not the vagina.

"I tried to kiss her just like I did (before)," he said.

When she then slapped and hit him, he said he giggled because he did not know why the girl was suddenly rejecting his advances.

"I sort of realised it wasn't her, but she kept on yelling and screaming at me," he said.

"I was pretty embarrassed."

But police prosecutor Rick Manley said Ferguson never explained to the alleged victim, her boyfriend or former team-mate Josh Dugan, who was also at the club, that he had confused the girl with someone else.

When Manley suggested this version of events was a last-minute invention, Ferguson insisted it had been an innocent mistake.

"I would never touch anyone like that if I didn't know them on an intimate level," he told the court.

Dugan also gave evidence he had seen Ferguson canoodling a young blonde woman at the previous venue.

When asked by Ferguson's lawyer Adam Houda if, as a sports star, there was "no shortage" of young women approaching him, Dugan replied: "Not at all."

In CCTV footage shown in court, Ferguson can be seen posing for photos with fans and hugging a young woman before turning and approaching the alleged victim behind him.

She then shoves and slaps Ferguson, who goes to the other side of the bar.

A decision on sentencing has been adjourned.


http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-11/blake-ferguson-found-guilty-of-indecent-assault/5150586
 
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NRL position on Blake Ferguson

NRL
7:18pm Wed 11th December, 2013

The National Rugby League has condemned the behaviour of former player Blake Ferguson who was found guilty of indecent assault in a Sydney Court today and who is now awaiting sentence.

Blake is currently unregistered and is not subject to the NRL's rules or sanctions.

"Whether someone is a Rugby League player or not the actions are completely unacceptable and entirely contrary to the values of our fans and the game," NRL Chief Operating Officer, Mr Jim Doyle, said today

"In considering any future application for registration, the NRL is required to form a view as to whether someone is a fit and proper person to be registered as a player.

"Today's ruling would have to be strongly considered if any club at any level of the game was to apply for a registration on his behalf."

The NRL suspended Ferguson earlier this year for repeated alcohol offences. It reserved its position in relation to the indecent assault charges until matters could be determined in court.


http://www.nrl.com/nrl-position-on-blake-ferguson/tabid/10874/newsid/75727/default.aspx

 
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