Blake Ferguson, an ex-Test star, and Kurri Kurri, a club in Newcastle, have agreed to terminate his contract following just a single league match. Ferguson faced a break with the Bulldogs due to numerous off-field controversies, leading to his unpopularity within the team.
There has been no communication from Ferguson after attempts were made to reach out via text. Newcastle rugby league‘s general manager, Adam Devcich, issued a statement regarding the situation involving the one-time Test winger.
The former NRL referee stated that Blake was signed by Kurri Kurri, but the club has since freed him from the contract. The termination was mutually agreed upon and no additional statements will be forthcoming from either party. This abrupt conclusion has reportedly upset Ferguson’s team members.
Ferguson was absent for the round 2 defeat against Maitland after featuring in Kurri’s first match of the season just two weeks prior. Ferguson’s recruitment was publicised on Kurri’s Facebook page with the player pictured in a Bulldogs jersey back in October of the previous year.
The club was excited about his signing for the 2024 season, due to his NRL playing experience and his representation of the Blues’ State of Origin and Australia. Supporters mirrored the club’s optimism, applauding the recruitment enthusiastically.
In an interesting turn of events, Ferguson’s departure allows Kurri to comply with the point system used in the Newcastle competition, which was designed to prevent club monopolisation. Previously, the club exceeded their point limit and were obliged to remove a player from their roster.
Rip Taylor, coach of the Bulldogs, has been supplementing the youthful team with fresh players, including Ferguson, to help rejuvenate last year’s tailenders. Ferguson has been participating in bush football following his exit from the Leigh Centurions English club in 2022.
Despite Ferguson’s respectable contribution to the NRL, his legal troubles have overshadowed his football career which included a total of seven Tests for Australia, nine State of Origin games for NSW and 249 NRL matches across multiple clubs including Cronulla, Parramatta, Canberra, and Sydney Roosters, during which he scored 126 tries.