Buzz’s highlights, lowlights: Manly Sea Eagles eye James Segeyaro

Former Broncos hooker James Segeyaro could join a fifth NRL club after returning from a 20-month ban. BUZZ’S HIGHS, LOWS

Blake Ferguson was arrested in Japan on cocaine possession charges (Photo by Patrick HAMILTON / AFP) /

The Manly Sea Eagles have shown interest in signing comeback hooker James Segeyaro.

Manly could become the 31-year-old’s fifth NRL club after stints at the Broncos, Sharks, Panthers and the Cowboys where he started in 2011.

The former PNG international is returning from a 20-month ban from the NRL’s anti-doping tribunal.

The future of Manly’s No.1 hooker Manase Fainu remains in doubt while he faces charges for an alleged knife attack two year ago.

Segeyaro’s manager Sam Ayoub has spoken to Manly coach Des Hasler in recent days.

The possibility of him returning via feeder club Blacktown has been mentioned.

Segeyaro has not played since September 2019 after he was found to have the drug ligandrol in his system. Ligandrol is the same substance to which Australian swimmer Shayna Jack returned a positive sample.

James Segeyaro is on the radar of the Sea Eagles. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

FERGUSEON TEXT EXCHANCE HOURS BEFORE ARREST

In the hours before Blake Ferguson was arrested in Japan on cocaine possession charges, your columnist was exchanging text messages with the fallen NRL star.

He was incredibly pumped up for his debut in Japanese rugby union.

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“I’m going good bra,” he wrote, “just enjoying the Japanese lifestyle.

“I’m sure I’m going to kill it. I scored two tries in our trial game and made a couple of line breaks.

“Make sure you watch my games on Stan.”

Blake Ferguson was arrested in Japan on cocaine possession charges (Photo by Patrick HAMILTON / AFP) /

A month later and Ferguson remains in custody in a Japanese jail with his union career over before it started.

This is such a wasted opportunity. You will never meet a nicer bloke.

It’s just that he’s so clumsy and makes so many dumb decisions.

Ferguson and his agent Sam Ayoub will be looking for a new NRL club once he has dealt with court proceedings in Japan.

So we asked NRL boss Andrew Abdo if his contract would be registered despite cocaine charges.

“If Blake was to return to Australia an interested club would be required to make an application for him to be registered as an NRL player,” Abdo said.

“Like any other player, we would consider all the available evidence and then make a determination about his suitability for registration in a fair and considered manner.”

Blake Ferguson at Japanese club NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu. Picture: Instagram

SUMMER HIGHLIGHTS

Ash Barty, Scott Boland, the Special Ks, Glenn Maxwell’s 154 from 64 balls in the BBL, the $8 prawn rolls at Forster-Tuncurry races, Kerry O’Keeffe, Jonathan Agnew and Jim Courier.

SUMMER LOWLIGHTS

Catching Covid over Xmas, New Year. Novak Djokovic and Russian Daniil Medvedev’s disgusting verbal attack on an umpire (he made $14 million last year but got fined $12,000.) The BBL. Too many games, too boring, not enough stars and the banning of Steve Smith.

HARD TIMES

Former boxing champ Jeff Harding is off the rails. He was recently spotted trying to pick a fight with ex-boxer and NRL player Garth Wood on the footpath outside Café Sofia in Erskineville. Fortunately Wood told him to wake up to himself and move on. Your columnist also received a late-night text message from Harding three weeks ago in which he was threatening to put another journo into intensive care. Someone needs to pull him into line.

SPOTTED

Boxing champion George Kambosos and Peter V’landys.

Another boxer — world champ George Kambosos — is doing much better and surrounding himself with the right sporting powerbrokers as he prepares for his next big fight later this year, a title defence in Australia. Kambosos was recently spotted meeting independent commission chairman Peter V’landys and on another occasion with long-time Sydney Roosters chairman Nick Politis.

ZERAFA FIGHTBACK

Boxing villain Michael Zerafa hasn’t been sighted since controversially pulling out of the Tim Tszyu fight in Newcastle in June last year. He will make his comeback on March 23 on the Sonny Bill Williams-Barry Hall undercard. An outstanding heavyweight, former NRL player Willis Meehan, is also on the undercard.

SHOOSH

The Knights have had yet another major injury scare. Gun centre Bradman Best left training last week with what medicos fearedwas a broken thumb.

Fortunately X-rays cleared him of a break. The poor bugger has now got Covid and is in isolation.

RADIO ACTIVE

Catch you every Monday at 7.05am on the Big Sports Breakfast with Laurie Daley, Michael Clarke and Gerard Middleton to discuss all the big rugby league stories in the countdown to the kick-off which is just 38 sleeps away.