It’s one thing dealing with the pressure and nerves of a possible State of Origin call up but to be hailed NSW’s answer to Queensland juggernaut Greg Inglis is something else.
But that’s exactly the headlines Blake Ferguson awoke to on Monday following his hat-trick heroics against Newcastle as his odds shortened about debuting for the Blues in Origin I next month.
Superstar Inglis is 195cm and 106kgs – Ferguson 191cm and 103kgs.
Physically, they are quite similar but – performance wise, at the moment – they’re poles apart.
Inglis is Origin’s leading try-scorer with 14 from 18 games.
He’s played 22 Tests as well as an Indigenous All Stars appearance in 2012.
Ferguson, who’s gradually grown into the centres as he developed, has played country Origin, made two appearances for the PM’s XI and also represented the Indigenous All Stars in 2010.
Before this season, he had 42 tries in 91 games compared to Inglis’s 98 in 157 games.
“Obviously, Greg Inglis is one of the best players in the world and I’m nowhere near there yet,” said the slightly embarrassed 25-year-old who does have some Inglis-like traits.
“I’ve got a lot of things to work on but I am really rapt with how I’ve been playing lately.”
Several former players have rubberstamped Ferguson’s call-up into Laurie Daley’s NSW side in the centres or on the wing but the man himself wasn’t keen to talk up his chances.
They weren’t just top-flight players leading the calls – they were Immortals Bob Fulton and Andrew Johns.
“I think I’m ready but I just want to keep playing well for the Raiders,” was his response when asked about a possible telephone call from Daley.
“It’s nice for people to say that but I don’t think I’m anywhere near where he (Inglis) is.”
Regardless, Ferguson’s transformation has been impressive since being suspended in March after being captured in a picture with axed teammate Josh Dugan drinking and giving a one-finger salute on the roof of his Canberra house.
Dugan, who signed a contract with St George Illawarra last week loaded with clauses, was sacked by the Raiders while Ferguson was fined $10,000 and stood down.
Ferguson hasn’t put a foot wrong since returning from two weeks’ suspension in the Raiders 30-12 loss to the Cowboys last month.
He quickly found form with two tries in the 24-20 upset of the previously unbeaten Melbourne and backed it up with last weekend’s three-try haul against Newcastle.
Ferguson said on Tuesday his focus was firmly on playing consistently for Canberra for the next two weeks and then seeing what happens after that.
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