Former Australia, New South Wales and Parramatta winger Blake Ferguson is about to take a step towards his stated goal of playing for the Wallabies at the 2023 by joining ex-Wallabies coach Michael Cheika in Japanese club rugby.
Ferguson, 31, called time on his NRL career after 249 first-grade games at the end of the season and said he wanted to play at the highest level in rugby union.
“Brad (Arthur) said he’d love to still have me but the offer would be a lot less than what I was on,” Ferguson told the Telegraph last month.
“So, I’ve played my last NRL game.
“It’s been a good ride and I got to achieve every goal that I set for myself.
“There has been some drama but it was all just part of the journey.”
Ferguson was linked to Super Rugby club Western Force, but Fox Sports reported Tuesday that he was close to stirking a deal to play under Cheika, whi is director of rugby at NEC Green Rockets in the Japan Top League.
“My manager (Sam Ayoub) is looking into it,” Ferguson said last month. “There are some very good opportunities now in rugby union.
“One of my goals is to play for the Wallabies.
“You’ve got to aim high. It would be a fantastic achievement to be a dual international.”
Former Wallaby Scott Fardy has recently arrived in Japan, where he will be the defence coach at the Japanese club.
Pickett
Roar Rookie
Not unlike you to not underestand the situation Papi.
mushi
Roar Guru
I think had the tactical understanding to use his strengths and decide to switch from wide running finisher to advantageline wrecking ball. He didn't have the technical to be a classic rugby winger.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Does he have to get under high balls in Rugby ? That might be funny ! :laughing:
Colvin Brown
Roar Guru
I'm not aware of that Kent but at the time I was slightly surprised of their selection. And I did rate Tuqiri higher.
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
they were virtually promised positions there. All we hear is how superior RL is to union in size, speed, strength, you name it they say it's better. The only one who did anything was Tuqiri
We are coming for you
Guest
Check out the guy who will be running around on one wing next year. He goes okay. Goodbye
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Happy if he is Nat. I like league too, but NRL fans who cannot see the qualities in the other code, not so much.
Colvin Brown
Roar Guru
"don’t recall Matt Rogers or Wendell Sailor doing too much in a Wallabies jersey." Well they played in a WRC final (in 2003) representing Australia. That's pretty good. Not so many people have done that.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
If a double negative is a positive I had to throw an extra one in to double down on the negative. I think that's how it goes? But I'm not positive. :laughing:
Hunters
Roar Rookie
Much ado...
Hunters
Roar Rookie
Hey, no triple negatives. You've done a 360 on him. He's facing the same direction but is dizzy and confused. And that's just not PC.
KenW
Roar Rookie
Didn't the Scot's College scouts drag him to Union? Somehow a talented RL kid from public school out at Young ended up in an exclusive Sydney private school in his teenage years. Odd how that happens...
Nat
Roar Guru
I was at that game, they didn't believe me then either!!
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Home ground advantage.
gatesy
Roar Guru
It's not like there is a shortage of good quality wingers at the moment .. Wright, Muirhead, Mogg (next year), Daugunu, Marika (never say never), Cam Clark, Kellaway, Vunivasi (remember him?), Petaia, Rona, Morahan, and anyone else that I have inadvertently left out.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
You are right Ozzie… He would not be on a significant wage playing NPC! If there were any interest in him it would be from a lower team in the NPC. He would not be interested as the wages are low, also I think that teams might be uneasy about it due to how Benji Marshal tried and failed playing for Auckland.
terrykidd
Roar Pro
Play for the Wallabies ???? Lol you have missed the bus by about 10 years.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
That's the funny thing. Crichton wasn't "scouted". He fell into Rugby League in a sense. I read a story once about how he was on hiatus from playing Rugby Union for Scot's College due to injury. Crichton was already in the Australian Rugby Union's junior pathways program. Crichton used to train around the area and one day rolled up to Roosters Jersey Flegg training and asked if he could train along side the team for conditioning. They were impressed and asked him to join the team. He played just 3 games before he went back to Scot's College to play Rugby Union. And Roosters fans claim that makes him a Roosters junior! :laughing:
Aiden
Guest
Hope he enjoys his Rugby in Japan, good luck to him. He can't be a Wallaby. He is too old, slow and injury prone ... by the time he gets up to speed he'll be older, slower and more injury prone. Unlike Sailor, who was a very average rugby player initially, but was at least in his prime. Even in the NRL, Blake is an error magnet. Constantly drops balls, does silly things. He does not have the pace to be a winger, the skillset to be at the back, or the defensive nous or handling to play in 12/13.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Mick, Mick, Mick. That’s it. Nothing more to say.