Roosters winger Blake Ferguson vows to help hometown Wellington

PROUD Wellington product Blake Ferguson has praised the club’s decision to lure former NRL stars Nathan Merritt and Timana Tahu as mentors, declaring: “I will be doing the same when I retire.”

Sydney Roosters star Blake Ferguson at Allianz Stadium. Picture: Brett Costello

PROUD Wellington product Blake Ferguson has praised the club’s decision to lure former NRL stars Nathan Merritt and Timana Tahu as mentors, declaring: “I will be doing the same when I retire.”

As revealed in The Sunday Telegraph, the Cowboys have secured Merritt and Tahu to lift the club and the community out of its darkest days.

Wellington has battled a raft of social issues over the years, including a substantial drug culture.

The rugby league team has also failed to reproduce its glory years from the 1990s. The first grade side won just three games in the Group 11 competition last season.

It’s why Wellington has called on Merritt and Tahu to revive the Cowboys club — on-and-off the field.

MORE: Merritt and Tahu out to help save a town

Ferguson is rapt with Wellington’s major signing coup, given his close connection with the local community.

The Roosters, NSW and Australian winger was raised in the NSW Central West town after being relocated there from Sydney by government welfare officers in 2003.

Thanks largely to the influence of his grandmother, Joan Sutherland, who he lived with at the time, Ferguson turned his life around.

He is now starring on the NRL stage, but he hasn’t forgotten about where it all started in Wellington.

“I’d love to go back and help my home town when I finish up in the NRL,” Ferguson said.

Sydney Roosters star Blake Ferguson at Allianz Stadium. Picture: Brett Costello

“I enjoyed it when I lived in Wellington. I went to primary and high school out there and a lot of my friends still live out there.

“When I saw the story on Merritt and Tahu I was surprised because Wello has never picked up anyone to help that little town out.

“It has gone through the ringer over last 10 years, but more so in the last five since the jail got put back there. But for Merritt and Tahu to go back is really good.

“It’s why when the time is right I’d definitely like to go back to the town and the community that gave me so much growing up.

“I wouldn’t have played in the NRL without my time in Wellington and I’m looking forward to spreading the game’s word in the bush when I retire.”

Ferguson believes it’s vital the Wellington community receives support and education on the health front. He regularly travels home to see family members, and said the local indigenous kids were crying out for genuine role models.

“There are very bad cultural problems,” he said.

Nathan Merritt is donning the boots for the Wellington Cowboys.

“There is only a small minority in the town that are doing well. It’s disappointing. There are people who have moved there and not made it a nice place to go.

“But with Merritt and Tahu coming, hopefully it can give the kids hope. They definitely need role ­models and those two are great role models of the game.

“I think a lot of indigenous kids will look up to them.”

A number of retired NRL stars are playing in the bush this season.

Ferguson said it was fantastic to see the likes of Josh Starling, Jeff Lima, Glenn Stewart and Glen Buttriss returning to country regions, but stressed the importance of players putting the club before their bank balance.

“They need to be going to the country for the right reasons,” he said.

Originally published as Roosters winger Blake Ferguson vows to help hometown Wellington