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Blake Ferguson is the Roosters star Nick Politis is most proud of
IN 25 years at the helm of the Sydney Roosters, Nick Politis has seen them all.
The champions and the chokers. The ones with talent — and the ones who waste it.
The selfish and selfless, the lazy and the dedicated.
“But Blake, I’d say he is one of the players I’m most proud of. From what he’s come back from, I love him. We all do,’’ the respected Roosters chairman said.
It seems that to everyone else, the story of Blake Ferguson has been forgotten - buried, perhaps by the impending demolition of Allianz Stadium.
Or simply overlooked, by the focus zoomed-in on openly-despised rivals, South Sydney.
For what could be the final time in Roosters colours, Ferguson will bounce down the old footy stadium tunnel tonight, push his chest up and out towards the fans and side-skip to his favourite, right-wing.
Roosters chairman Nick Politis says he is most proud of Blake Ferguson and how far he has come as a person. Picture: Gregg Porteous
After four years at the Roosters, the 28-year-old is headed for Parramatta next season.
The father-of-two, who has scored 100 tries in 190 NRL appearances, desperately wants his 192nd match to be at ANZ Stadium on grand final day.
In career best-form, the 2018 season has proven Ferguson’s coming of age.
Commentators and fans can be guilty of only using statistics to prove a point.
And in Ferguson’s case, with the most amount of average metres (190) in the NRL this year, it makes for easy reading.
But what leaves Politis bursting with pride - and so to cousin Anthony Mundine - is Ferguson’s commitment to taking control of his life outside footy and a desire to raise his two children, Harlo (2) and London (1), in a world of stability and without conflict.
The possibility of Ferguson finishing at the Roosters with a premiership, wouldn’t have been possible if, prior to last Christmas, he didn’t put himself through a three-week stint in a Wollongong mental health clinic, which saved him from “losing it all.’’
Blake Ferguson scores a try during the Round 25 match against the Parramatta Eels... The club he will join next year. Picture: AAP
“That was my pre-season,’’ Ferguson told The Sunday Telegraph, earlier this year.
“Getting myself right in the mind.
“Everyone goes through struggles and this was just another hurdle in my life that I needed to do. I walked out with a new life.’’
Few are aware, but that new life included moving in under the roof of Mundine’s mother, Lyn.
“Mum changed his nappies, she’s seen him grow up and become the man he is,’’ Mundine said. “He’s the first to admit he’s made some mistakes and his tough up-bringing has been well documented. But it’s about looking forward and that’s the way Blake has gone about his business this year.
“He doesn’t drink anymore, he rarely goes out. You can see it now in his general well-being, his happiness with life. I know for a fact how happy he is. And that reflects absolutely in his football. He’s had one of the best season’s I’ve seen from him.’’
Roosters fans are crowing about the loss of rising star Latrell Mitchell tonight.
Blake Ferguson came to the Roosters as a troubled youth but leaves the club a better man. Picture: Brett Costello
How quickly we all forget that Ferguson, just nine years ago, shared the same boom of which the suspended centre is labelled.
Back then, a 19-year-old Ferguson would stop, prop and spin along the training paddock like a shadow boxer.
Onlookers settled on the view that the gangly teenager was simply playing the goof.
But to Ferguson training was all about turning the hours he had spent analysing footage of idol Greg Inglis on YouTube, into practice.
Tonight, Ferguson - with rare and much-wanted clarity in his life - gets the chance to beat his idol on the game’s biggest stage.
And Politis is backing his pride and joy.
“He’s playing with a passion and an enthusiasm of the like we haven’t seen before,’’ Politis said. “This club wants him to be the best man and the best player he can be. I want him to continue staying focused off the field next year.
“And although Blake might be leaving, he’ll always be part of our club. He knows that.’’
IN 25 years at the helm of the Sydney Roosters, Nick Politis has seen them all.
The champions and the chokers. The ones with talent — and the ones who waste it.
The selfish and selfless, the lazy and the dedicated.
“But Blake, I’d say he is one of the players I’m most proud of. From what he’s come back from, I love him. We all do,’’ the respected Roosters chairman said.
It seems that to everyone else, the story of Blake Ferguson has been forgotten - buried, perhaps by the impending demolition of Allianz Stadium.
Or simply overlooked, by the focus zoomed-in on openly-despised rivals, South Sydney.
For what could be the final time in Roosters colours, Ferguson will bounce down the old footy stadium tunnel tonight, push his chest up and out towards the fans and side-skip to his favourite, right-wing.
Roosters chairman Nick Politis says he is most proud of Blake Ferguson and how far he has come as a person. Picture: Gregg Porteous After four years at the Roosters, the 28-year-old is headed for Parramatta next season.
The father-of-two, who has scored 100 tries in 190 NRL appearances, desperately wants his 192nd match to be at ANZ Stadium on grand final day.
In career best-form, the 2018 season has proven Ferguson’s coming of age.
Commentators and fans can be guilty of only using statistics to prove a point.
And in Ferguson’s case, with the most amount of average metres (190) in the NRL this year, it makes for easy reading.
But what leaves Politis bursting with pride - and so to cousin Anthony Mundine - is Ferguson’s commitment to taking control of his life outside footy and a desire to raise his two children, Harlo (2) and London (1), in a world of stability and without conflict.
The possibility of Ferguson finishing at the Roosters with a premiership, wouldn’t have been possible if, prior to last Christmas, he didn’t put himself through a three-week stint in a Wollongong mental health clinic, which saved him from “losing it all.’’
Blake Ferguson scores a try during the Round 25 match against the Parramatta Eels... The club he will join next year. Picture: AAP “That was my pre-season,’’ Ferguson told The Sunday Telegraph, earlier this year.
“Getting myself right in the mind.
“Everyone goes through struggles and this was just another hurdle in my life that I needed to do. I walked out with a new life.’’
Few are aware, but that new life included moving in under the roof of Mundine’s mother, Lyn.
“Mum changed his nappies, she’s seen him grow up and become the man he is,’’ Mundine said. “He’s the first to admit he’s made some mistakes and his tough up-bringing has been well documented. But it’s about looking forward and that’s the way Blake has gone about his business this year.
“He doesn’t drink anymore, he rarely goes out. You can see it now in his general well-being, his happiness with life. I know for a fact how happy he is. And that reflects absolutely in his football. He’s had one of the best season’s I’ve seen from him.’’
Roosters fans are crowing about the loss of rising star Latrell Mitchell tonight.
Blake Ferguson came to the Roosters as a troubled youth but leaves the club a better man. Picture: Brett Costello How quickly we all forget that Ferguson, just nine years ago, shared the same boom of which the suspended centre is labelled.
Back then, a 19-year-old Ferguson would stop, prop and spin along the training paddock like a shadow boxer.
Onlookers settled on the view that the gangly teenager was simply playing the goof.
But to Ferguson training was all about turning the hours he had spent analysing footage of idol Greg Inglis on YouTube, into practice.
Tonight, Ferguson - with rare and much-wanted clarity in his life - gets the chance to beat his idol on the game’s biggest stage.
And Politis is backing his pride and joy.
“He’s playing with a passion and an enthusiasm of the like we haven’t seen before,’’ Politis said. “This club wants him to be the best man and the best player he can be. I want him to continue staying focused off the field next year.
“And although Blake might be leaving, he’ll always be part of our club. He knows that.’’
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