In yet another grim edition of footballers do the drunkest things, Blake Ferguson has been stood down from the New South Wales State of Origin team and had his NRL contract suspended and subject to review after being charged with indecent assault in Sydney last night. The 23 year old Canberra Raiders winger was dumped from Game II of the State of Origin series which takes place in Brisbane next week and faces an uncertain NRL future due to what the league describes as “repeated behavioural issues involving the abuse of alcohol”.
Ferguson was charged and arrested yesterday after getting inappropriately handsy with a patron at a bar in Cronulla on Sunday night. The incident, which was apparently captured and corroborated by CCTV footage, is alleged to have involved the player being slapped in the face after groping a 23 year old woman.
Ferguson had been drinking at the venue with NSW “booze brother” teammate Josh Dugan, previously his accomplice in a highly publicised rooftop drinking session which resulted in one week bans for both players.
NRL chief executive Dave Smith said that drastic punishments were required to change the code’s culture.
“The fans do not want to see the game tarnished and neither do the players,” he said. “It’s time for people to understand that the game isn’t going to accept this sort of behaviour. The first step in Blake’s case is to make a clear call in relation to Origin, and tomorrow we will consult with the Raiders to determine the minimum period we would look at in terms of suspension.”
Last year, Ferguson faced internal disciplinary action/the fact that he might be a douche-bag after an incident in Canberra in which he reportedly spat on patrons at the Foreshore Music Festival.
Photo by Ryan Pierse for Getty Images Sport
