Anthony Mundine vows that when he is finished with troubled star Blake Ferguson he will never drink another beer

ANTHONY Mundine vows that by the time troubled star Blake Ferguson completes his rehabilitation, he will never drink another beer.

ANTHONY Mundine has vowed that by the time he is finished with helping troubled Canberra star Blake Ferguson through his rehabilitation, he will never drink another beer.

Mundine, a teetotaller and Ferguson’s cousin, has taken the 23-year-old under his wing since Ferguson was dumped from the NSW side, after being charged by police with indecent assault over an alleged drunken incident in Cronulla.

The champion boxer told NRL360 on Wednesday night that he has faith Ferguson will respond to his treatment and turn his career around.  

"l'll tell you one thing, when he’s done with me he won’t have another beer," Mundine told NRL360. 

"I really believe that, I believe in the kid, I believe in how I’m working with him and how he is responding."

Ferguson, who returned to Raiders training for the first time on Wednesday, watched Origin II live in Brisbane before being spotted later at a pub.

Daily Telegraph writer and NRL360 host Paul Kent saw Ferguson that night and while Mundine had been told a version of events by Ferguson which had him at the pub for 10-15 minutes, Kent however recalled the night differently. 

"I was at the pub that night and he was there longer than 15 minutes," Kent revealed.

"To say it was an alcohol free night (for Ferguson), I don’t think is quite right either."

Mundine was surprised by Kent’s revelation but confirmed he would be discussing the matter with Ferguson. 

"I’m upset to hear what Paul just said tonight which I will confront a brother about that," Mundine said. 

"He’s too good of a talent, I told him he could be up there with the best players in the game and I truly believe that."

Mundine said he felt obliged to help and mentor Ferguson, and pointed to the drinking culture in rugby league as the root of the problem. 

"It’s a person’s choice inside if they want to stop (drinking),” Mundine explains. 

"You can get them in a healthy environment. I’m actually working him mentally... giving him my experience and everything I‘ve been through coming up. I was in football through all the juniors, come through first grade and the culture hasn’t really changed.

"You win, you have a beer, you lose you have a beer and some players get injured and have beers." 

Ferguson faces court on July 16, the day before the State of Origin decider at ANZ Stadium.