BLAKE FERGUSON is lucky to have Laurie Daley in his corner, and the NSW Origin debutant knows it.
When Ferguson went missing from an emerging Blues camp in January, Daley was far from impressed.
But the new Blues coach sat down with the troubled star and gave him another chance in the Indigenous All Stars team he also coaches.
And in March, when the Canberra centre went within an inch of having his NRL contract torn up after drinking Breezers on a roof with Josh Dugan, Daley gave Ferguson the spray he needed to hear.
“Yeah, he just told me to pull my head in I guess,” says Ferguson of the blunt conversation that helped propel him from bad boy to Blues bolter.
Daley was as hard on Ferguson as anyone, but stood by him during the bad times, knowing that off the field the 23-year-old Raider was a nice guy with the potential on the park to be NSW’s answer to Greg Inglis.
In his own words, Ferguson “worked his butt off” to get his life back on track.
And when that effort translated into standout performances against Melbourne and Newcastle, Daley was convinced he’d witnessed the transformation of wasted talent to potential State of Origin match-winner.
Next Wednesday, Ferguson lines up on the wing and will attempt to use his size and skill to perform a “GI” on Queensland.
Since first playing under Daley for NSW Country Origin last year – when he was man-of-the-match against City – Ferguson appreciates he’s gained himself an important mentor.
“I had Laurie in Country camp last year, and it was pretty good to get a run in that,” Ferguson said.
“He speaks to me fairly often.
“I think it’s good he showed faith in me to give me a run in this team.
“(Origin) was the last thing I was thinking of back then. I was just thinking about getting my life off the field back… getting out of trouble and stuff.”
Ferguson has been described as brash and cocky, and NSW will need that next Wednesday.
But the 23-year-old displayed his humble side when he got the news of his Origin selection.
“My pop called me… there were a couple of tears in my eyes,” Ferguson said.
“My family are so proud of me. Unbelievable, they’re so happy.
“It means a lot to me. I think it means the world to every New South Welshman to get a Blue jumper.”
By Ben Horn in Sydney
IMAGE: Canberra’s Blake Ferguson is set to have a big impact for the Blues in State of Origin debut. (AAP Image/Action Photographics, Renee McKay)
[ Source: Australian Times ]