Former international Blake Ferguson launched into the NRL in a blistering Instagram post after being told the governing body would not be covering any medical bills to fix injuries suffered during his playing days.
The retired winger played the last of his 249 NRL games for Parramatta in 2021 before finishing his career in the UK with Leigh Centurions after a short-lived stint in Japanese rugby which ended when he was jailed over allegations of assault and cocaine possession.
He spent nearly a month in jail and his $1.5m deal with the NEC Green Rockets was torn up.
The 32-year-old former NSW and Australia representative needs surgery to correct breathing difficulties after several broken noses during his 12-year career in the NRL.
“After 15 years in the @nrl system, playing 249 games for 4 NRL teams winning a grand final, 7 games for @arlkangaroos, 9 games for @nswblues, winning the Harry sunderland medal (players player for Kangaroos) and breaking my nose over 8 times you’d think they would fix it as I dedicated my life and body to the game,” he wrote in an Instagram story that went live on Wednesday night.
“But no I have been told because I went to japan and England and it has been over 12 months that I’m not eligible for the medical treatment to fix it.
“What’s the go deadset person struggles to sleep at night and puts bums on seats for yas and you wanna just throw a person to the kirb (sic) once they are retired. Absolute joke.”
He then wrote: “Surely I can be compensated for ruining my face. This wouldn’t have happened if I just played for ya local footy team. You think this came from walking in the park on an afternoon @rlplayers @arlkangaroos @nrl @nswblues.”
The likes of current stars Josh Addo-Carr and Latrell Mitchell, as well as former players Andrew Fifita, Terrence Seu Seu and Sandor Earl have voiced their support on social media.
Mitchell posted: “Regardless of how long you’re out of the game, you should be compensated for your dedication … @blakeferguson23 What I’ve witnessed as a young fulla coming in to a system with you bred showed a lot of professionalism! Love ya bra. Bums in seats for a game that forgets their biggest assets.”
Ferguson won a premiership with the Roosters in 2018 after stints at Cronulla and Canberra before finishing his NRL career with a three-year stint at Parramatta.
He scored 126 tries and was a crowd-pleaser with his post-try celebrations, including backflips from a standing start in the in-goal area.
Fergson’s post comes after the Rugby League Players Association pushed strongly in the latest pay negotiations to include longer-term medical support fund for players following their retirement.
Ferguson’s case would likely fit into that, with the RLPA believing his circumstances are an example of why the fund needs to exist to help players injured in the NRL or NRLW.
The need for the fund has been agreed to in principle in negotiations with the NRL but the scope, eligibility and funding still needs to be worked through.
The full collective bargaining agreement will also need to be finalised before anything is enacted.
Gus O
Roar Rookie
I hope Fergo “dedicated” himself to playing footy because he enjoyed playing footy. Surely treatment of workplace injury suffered from playing should be covered by insurance. In other workplaces there are forms to complete and submit for workers comp claims… lots of paperwork. My recollection is that medical insurance for injury treatment/rehab for ex players has been a big issue in previous negotiations between the players association and the NRL. How is this not already resolved?
David
Guest
I have zero sympathy. Players today earn very good money and should be able to afford any medical bills in retirement unless they piss it away. If you’re willing to take the money then accept the risks that come with it. Of course his fellow indigenous mates would show him support. Nothing is ever enough. The players from pre super league are the ones that should have their medical bills covered. They earned peanuts and the game was a lot more brutal back then. They also didn’t have the information they have now on the effects of head knocks back then so there was a lot less concern and care for player welfare. They are the ones who should be complaining.
Bojo
Guest
His case is against the various clubs he was contracted too, not the NRL.
Babs
Guest
Wants the NRL to psy for elective surgery long after multiple injuries. Which of the 8 times he broke it is he claiming the most damage was done? To which club was he contracted when this occurred? He's dreaming. He always came across as a petulant teenager.
Freddie
Guest
He was never "employed" by the NRL. He was contracted by various clubs and played in the NRL. His claim should be directed to them.
Freddie
Guest
This is an elective surgery. He's dreaming.
Freddie
Guest
Moot point, not mute. Although I wish Fergo was mute.
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
'Absolute joke' ... 'dedicated my life and body to the game' - all the while being paid handsomely with contracts in the $hundreds of thousands a year. Have a chat with Brett Kenny or Junior Pearce where a serious injury could not only end your playing career, but also your day job which was your main source of income. maybe if he didn't "blow" his $1.5 million contract in Japan it wouldn't be an issue.
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
It might not be a really serious operation, but why do it if it’s not necessary? It’s reasonable to wait.
mushi
Roar Guru
I hear what you're saying but the recovery time on nose surgery is hardly career limiting, that can easily be done in an off-season. It's going to be tough for him to argue that he couldn't have elected to do that. This is not the hill to die on for players rights.
Dumbo
Roar Rookie
Don't they have managers, who are supposed to be older and wiser and giving them advice, as well as negotiating new contracts?
Censored Often
Roar Rookie
Workers comp insurance is for employees. I'm fairly sure footy players are contractors and therefore should be carrying their own insurance (I have to but then again I'm nota footy player).
Censored Often
Roar Rookie
Assuming a player on that sort of coil would have health insurance as a last resort.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Is he claiming costs from the NRL for lack of oxygen to the brain? That would lead to a whole lotta claims
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
I once kicked my toe while stacking shelves at The Reject Shop. Gimme. Gimme. Gimme.
Dionysus
Guest
Yes, it does. Why should the NRL be responsible when the bloke has left the NRL and then had two further employers and served a jail sentence in between. Surely if this problem is so bad that he has trouble sleeping at night then both of those employers of the Japanese Penal system would have picked it up. Maybe he incurred or made worse this injury whilst at Leigh but being a small second division club with no money he knew there was no point going after them. He could have done the same in Japan but given his criminal record over there plus language difficulties he knows he has no chance. I think Fergo is trying to pull a fast one over the employer who appears the weakest to be the weakest link..
Dionysus
Guest
.... and could have occurred or made worse by activities at his next employer, his employer following that or whilst he was serving jail time inbetween. Had japan/jail/Leigh not happened and he had stayed in the NRL then I think his case would have been a lot stronger.
Dionysus
Guest
NRL shouldn't pay. This guy might have played a lot of NRL games but he then went chasing the mighty dollar and went to Union in Japan. After ending up in Jail over there he then goes to the UK to ply his trade then comes crying back to Oz expecting the NRL to pay his bills. What are we, a Charity ? Fergerson should spend some of the massive salary he has earned over those year including his Japan money to fix his problems. That is why he got the big bucks earning more in a single year than your ordinary guy would earn in Six. Absolutely no sympathy. If he had stuck with the NRL through to the end then I might have had a slither but no, try getting Japan or Leigh to pay for it.
Robbo
Roar Rookie
I dont remember it looking that bad when he left the NRL. I do recall him saying he was waiting until he retired to get it fixed. Still.....waited too long by the sound of it. Reading fine print not his strong point ill wager.....
Robbo
Roar Rookie
Actually there are plenty of those kinds of scenarios, often successful