The SMH has word that Canberra Raiders star Blake Ferguson has got himself in more bother:
Police are investigating an incident at a nightclub in Sydney’s south involving NSW State of Origin winger Blake Ferguson.
No arrests have been made but police said they were investigating an incident involving the footballer at 2230 Restaurant and Bar in Cronulla about 10.30pm on Sunday.
“Police have seized CCTV footage from the location and are continuing with further inquiries,” Miranda police duty officer Inspector Mick Merrett said.
We’re hearing Josh Dugan was also at the pub, and that the allegation is of indecent assault.
UPDATE: The Raiders have made a terse statement:
The Canberra Raiders have been made aware of an incident involving Blake Ferguson last night at a Sydney licenced premise. The incident is currently under investigation.
“We have been notified by the NRL of an incident involving Blake Ferguson last night,” Raiders CEO Don Furner said. “At this stage we are working with Police, NSW League management and the NRL integrity unit and will make no further comment the facts can be properly established.”
FURTHER UPDATE: The ABC brings word he’s been charged with indecent assault:
“Ferguson will not take part in the second State of Origin game and the NRL will reserve its decision on when he may be able to resume playing until it is in a position to assess any further relevant facts with the Canberra Raiders and the NRL Integrity Unit.”
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grunge_hippy said :
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/raiders-stars-caught-boozing-before-key-match-20130909-2tg31.html
It’s pretty clear the Canberra Raiders team culture has an alcohol problem.
No alcohol clauses in player contracts is the solution. You want to play for the Raiders, no drinking during the season. If you can’t make the commitment, good luck elsewhere.
Enough already.
grunge_hippy said :
Then you’d better call the Canberra Raiders as they reckon they’re standing by Ferguson on conditions including that he undertakes alcohol rehabilitation programs.
James_Ryan said :
nope I’m calling bullshit on alcohol being the blame.
Most people drink and can control their impulses or at least not act like a total knob job most of the time. It seems these new crop of players cant control their impulses or handle their drink whereas the players of the past were able to keep their behaviour in relative check – not to mention that these days everyone is ready, willing and able to dob the players in any chance they get. Back then, they were able to go out, have a good time, and no one would be ringing the papers or taking video. We saw Ricky Stuart nearly get hit by a taxi one night off his chops and it didn’t make the paper. These days it would be all over social media and the newspapers.
grunge_hippy said :
I’m unsure why you’re calling “bullshit”. You think it would have happened if alcohol was not involved?
You seem to be suggesting that the “problem” is that people now have smartphones and expectations of responsible behaviour from footballers, as opposed to the good old days. I’m calling that for “bullshit”.
Every single one of the unsavoury incidents referred to in this thread is the result of poor judgement when drinking. Some who are otherwise reasonable people, drink alcohol and display poor judgement and make bad decisions. Remove the alcohol and you get better behaviour.
I can’t believe that sporting organisations like the Raiders (and Cricket Australia, and others) don’t have strict no alcohol clauses in their player contracts (or at least some player contracts). Honestly, which NRL club in its right mind would want to pay a fortune for Dugan, Carney, Ferguson et al, and then let them decide how much they’re going to drink?
Reprobate said :
I am glad you can remember all these incidents also as some people on this blog only believe things if they are on the internet and there is scientific proof of same.
What happened to books and oral discussion?
dungfungus said :
I remember, I used to work with the mother of the girl who was punched in the face. The way the family had to cope with her injuries, then trying to bring the matter through the ACT courts for justice (ha!) really changed the way I viewed the Raiders.
Now after Monaghan, Carney, Dugan etc in the very recent past we have Ferguson. Pattern emerging for anyone? Lots of money, booze, ink and ego.
The club says Ferguson’s had a tough upbringing and needs to be looked after; fair enough, but maybe also keep him on a leash when he’s out in public eh? If anything I have even more contempt for Dugan as he seems to have been the one seriously leading Ferguson astray… time for Fergo to choose his “friends” more wisely.
Chop71 said :
Correct. I should have said ACT Government and all their subsidiaries. There are a few good letters in today’s CT about the corporate largesse of ACTEW’s retiring chairman.
Remember how that ill-fated Stanhope idea called Rhodium Asset Solutions was sponsoring the Brumbies through the backdoor in a similar way to what UC are doing now?
dungfungus said :
….and ACTEW can stop sending our utility bills their way too.
dungfungus said :
And Steve Jackson (hero of the Raiders Grand final win over Balmain) who belted someone severely at Ainslie Foofball Club.
Heavs said :
The 5.00am incident in Northbourne Avenue is clearly recalled. Also, Big Mal was involved in a punch-up at a Tuggeranong club and later successfully defended himself in court.
Mustn’t forget the Noa Nadruka incident at the South Pacific club in City Walk either.
bundah said :
Not that one. But I’ve heard that the Raiders put a clause into his last contract banning him from Kippax Tavern.
Thumper said :
There is a lot wrong with the sport but I don’t agree the club is to blame. All three have publicly been on various final warnings and have chosen to go out and do stupid things in their own time. I’m sure the club would love to keep them chained up while not training or playing, but they can only do so much.
And League’s problems are hardly limited to the Raiders…
Personally, I’m tired of reading positive news stories about players “turning their lives around” in a matter of days or weeks, only for that player to 100% prove they simply cannot be trusted to behave like a normal person. Especially when the player is or was playing for the Raiders.
Speaking of the old school Raiders players I recall hearing that there was an occasion where Brett Mullins,who used to get pissed quite regularly in public and apparently behave like a tool,drove his car into a tree on Northbourne Ave at about 5am whilst pissed.The story goes that the plod turned up and bundled him into their car and drove him home.Does anyone recall that incident?
I have heard it said that Rugby is a mugs game played by gentlemen whereas League is a gentlemen’s game(not so sure about that) played by mugs(or is that thugs).Perhaps the Raiders could learn a thing or two about how to conduct themselves in public from the Brumbies?
grunge_hippy said :
+1000
Anyone surprised?
Seriously?
Something is seriously wrong at the club when it throws up Carney, Dugan and Ferguson…
If ever there was a reason for the ACT Government to stop all funding of professional sporting teams in the ACT, this is it.
gungsuperstar said :
gungsuperstar, I really think you’ve missed the point.
You mention Carney and Monaghan. To use your examples, how many driving offences did Carney get away with? How many times did the raiders collect Carney from police custody, drunk as a skunk? How many times was Monaghan ejected from clubs for lewd behaviour? The raiders has for years covered up the behaviour of the players. What they are dealing with now is the result of years of cover-ups, with players who know that they are almost immune from prosocution, as long as they perform their acts within Canberra. it’s very difficult for the raiders to now take a moral stand when they have raised a team with a culture of alcoholic deviants, without “breaking a few eggs”.
The people have been sacked were caught because what they did was outside of the control of the raiders:
Carney – Goulburn and an act in Canberra where the complainant refused to back down.
Moghnahan – instagram/twitter
Dugan – instagram/twitter
Ferguson – Cronulla
It would be very interesting reading if the raiders released the reports that they provided the NRL regarding the off field behaviour of Carney and Dugan.
grunge_hippy said :
I’m glad someone has brought up the subject of how females throw themselves at footballers. It might not be fashionable in these politically correct “misogynist” days but young girls regard getting laid by a footballer to be an honour and they love it. I remember when I was at a game in the early ’90s girls shoving bits of paper with their phone numbers into the back pockets of players as they left the change rooms. Nothing has changed. Perhaps we should look at rolling back the sexual assault laws to exempt groping and kissing. Maybe scrapping them altogether if females are involved.
m00nee said :
You’re an idiot.
Yep, Monaghan and Carney were covered up well in Canberra weren’t they?
You clearly don’t know a thing about rugby league – the travesty of this is the exact opposite of what you say. The Raiders have already been screwed because they upheld standards around Dugan, who was allowed to play again 2 months later.
And the same thing will happen now. The media is already reporting that the Raiders are pissed off that Ferguson was out with Dugan – he lied to them and told them he was going to Sydney to spend a night with family before Origin.
Given he’s already on a “final warning” for his last act of stupidity with Dugan, this will be an easy decision for the Raiders. He’ll be sacked by the end of the week (as early as Tuesday morning), and it will be nothing to do with the charges that have been laid.
And the Raiders will again be screwed when Parramatta or the Roosters sign him up before the end of the season because we’re the only club in the NRL that upholds our players to any standards.