Fallen rugby league star Blake Ferguson has found work as a labourer in a bid to show he is “worthy” of an NRL return, his cousin and mentor Anthony Mundine says.
Mundine believed a dose of the real world would help Ferguson overcome his latest controversy and return to the NRL a better player and person.
Mundine said he had enjoyed mentoring the former NSW Origin strike weapon since his Canberra sacking but admitted a successful NRL return would hinge on one person – Ferguson.
“When Blake is with me I know he is not going to step out of line,” Mundine told AAP on Saturday.
“But you can’t babysit him 24-7. He has to stand on his own two feet.
“But he is taking steps in the right direction.
“He wants to show he is worthy of making a comeback.”
Mundine believed Ferguson rolling up his sleeves at a Sydney work site was just what the wayward rugby league star needed.
“It will thicken his skin, toughen him up, going through this,” he said.
“He is still a young boy. He will learn from this. If anything after all is said and done he will come out stronger.”
Free agent Ferguson has been linked to Cronulla, the Bulldogs and the Sydney Roosters for next season.
But the NRL may stretch his exile into 2014 to punish him for off-field incidents and going AWOL at the Raiders during the final month of the regular season, leading to his August axing.
The former Canberra centre was charged with indecent assault at a Cronulla nightspot when he was supposed to be preparing to enter NSW State of Origin camp ahead of game two.
The matter is still before the courts.
Ferguson is also scheduled to face court on October 21 to answer various driving charges.
The NRL is expected to wait for the court cases’ outcome before making their next move on Ferguson.
Mundine said his cousin knew he had to “keep his head down” if he was to be rewarded with an NRL comeback.
“He is in a good mindset doing some labour work just to mentally get himself back together,” he said.
“He’s content right now to work hard, and keep his head down and bum up.”
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