Blake Ferguson on the ‘wrong choice’ to have a drinking session Paul Carter

ROOSTERS star Blake Ferguson concedes he made the “wrong choice” inviting Paul Carter to his home for a drinking session but says he won’t stop enjoying his life.

Ferguson knows now he made a bad decision. Photo: Phil Hillyard

SYDNEY Roosters star Blake Ferguson concedes he needs to start “taking wiser options” after police were called following a bizarre drinking session with Paul Carter.

“I will choose the people that come into my home a little bit better now,” Ferguson said. “But I’m not going to sit back and be a boring human.”

In an exclusive interview with The Daily Telegraph, Ferguson revealed he made a heartfelt apology to his “helpless” partner when police arrived at his Sydney home after a night of beers with troubled ex-Roosters teammate Paul Carter.

The NSW State of Origin winger opened up about the cruel hoax call an angry Carter allegedly made to police when asked to leave Ferguson’s Enmore home earlier this month.

Carter allegedly told police Ferguson’s two sons — Harlo, 2, and London, eight months — may have ingested drugs, a claim police and ambulance officers quickly dismissed. The incident happened while Ferguson’s partner, Bianca Menniti was overseas.

Ferguson was shattered by the allegation.

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Ferguson knows now he made a bad decision. Photo: Phil Hillyard

BAD CHOICES

Ferguson has a big heart and is loved by teammates. Friends say he needs to choose better mates — and learn to say no. He knows inviting Carter to his home was a mistake.

“I think my missus probably hit the nail on the head when she said it was the wrong choice,” Ferguson said. “Looking back now, I will have to take wiser options. At the end of the day, what’s done is done.

“I have been cleared of any wrongdoing — and I’m pretty happy about that.”

Pressed on whether he was simply too kind, Ferguson said: “I don’t know — if I knew, I probably wouldn’t get into trouble. I just enjoy having quality time with quality people but when you put yourself out there, you are open for criticism.

“I know the people that know me, love me. People that don’t know me probably think I’m a bit of a ‘Dereck.’ It doesn’t really bother me. I have thick skin.

“I’m not going to sit back and be a boring human. I want to have a good life.”

Paul Carter was sacked by the Roosters. Photo: Peter Lorimer.

POLICE VISIT

Ferguson admitted the involvement of police was frightening for his family.

“It was pretty scary when the police turned up. They just stormed their way in — it was pretty confronting and daunting,” Ferguson said.

“Obviously when there’s children involved, they have a duty of care to make sure they are okay.

“But they came in and woke my kids up at 5 o’clock in the morning. They ruined their sleep. It made my next day pretty bad. There were people in the house that my children didn’t know.

“I was pretty filthy, to be honest. I guess the police have a duty of care when children are involved to make sure they are safe.

“The way they came in was probably warranted because of the call but it still upset me because they scared my kids when they didn’t need to be scared.”

Ferguson and Bianca Menniti during the NSW State of Origin Blues' Ball. Photo: Brett Costello

THE PARTNER

Menniti was in Bali for a long weekend to celebrate a hen’s night when the incident occurred.

“Bianca was disappointed. She is a mother and always wants to know that the kids are okay,” Ferguson said. “At first she was cranky. She was sweet after two days.

“I am definitely sorry for making her feel like she was helpless, because she was away.

“It was definitely tough for her. We spoke about it when she came home — she came around.

“I picked her up from the airport and it was pretty good to see her when she came back. I have never really had the kids with me without her before for that amount of time.

“When she came home, it was pretty emotional.”

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IT HURT ME

Ferguson dotes on Harlo and London. Carter’s accusation they had swallowed drugs hurt Ferguson.

“I would never, ever do anything to hurt my kids. They mean the world to me,” Ferguson said. “Besides my brother and sister, they are the only blood that I have.

“People who know me as a bloke, and as a good mate, know I would never do anything to hurt my kids.

“And I would never let anyone near my kids that I don’t trust.

“I didn’t get picked for the Australian squad so I’ve got eight weeks to kick back and enjoy it with the kids.

“I want my kids to have everything. For anyone to think I would do anything like that to my kids, it hurts me.”

NO REGRETS

Carter, who was sacked by the Roosters earlier this year for off-field incidents, sought out Ferguson for beers on the night of October 11. After explaining he couldn’t go out because of his children, Ferguson invited Carter to his home.

After a number of drinks, Carter became agitated when asked to leave at 3am. He wanted more alcohol. It almost ended in a physical.

“It was disappointing,” Ferguson said. “I said I would come pick him up and he could come over to my house, have a couple of beers, have a sleep and wake up in the morning as fresh as a daisy.

“It didn’t work out that way. I obviously made the wrong decision and I have to live with that. But I don’t live life with regrets, you know that.

“The police and ambulance turned up and everything was fine. They cleared me of any wrongdoing.

“As soon as my partner’s mum came around, everything was all good. We then just kicked back and had brekky about 8am. We were just trying to relax and chill out.”

Ferguson has to learn from his mistakes. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

THE LOST MATE

The pair haven’t spoken since the drama — and probably won’t again. But Ferguson refuses to criticise Carter.

“I just offered some help to ‘Carts’ that night — I didn’t do anything wrong. I wanted to help him out — that was about it,” Ferguson said.

“I don’t regret any decision that I make and I wish the best for ‘Carts’. That was the first time we had a beer together. He’s a good fella.”

Asked would he share another beer with Carter, Ferguson said: “Probably not. I haven’t really spoken to him. I will probably keep to myself for a few months.

“I only played with him a couple of games and did a pre-season with him. I don’t like to knock anyone. I just hope he — we both — sort out our own little problems. We both do have problems.

“He was probably concerned about something (that night). I can’t knock his concern. Any bloke that has concerns over children should obviously come forward.

“For me, I will choose the people that come into my home a little bit better now.”

Originally published as Blake Ferguson on the ‘wrong choice’ to have a drinking session Paul Carter