Blake Ferguson to tackle Suncorp Stadium from a different perspective

JUST days after he was charged with indecent assault and sacked from the NSW Origin side, Blake Ferguson caught a plane north.

JUST days after he was charged with indecent assault and sacked from the NSW Origin side three years ago, Blake Ferguson caught a plane north.

Not for a relaxing holiday in the Queensland sunshine, but rather to sit in the Suncorp Stadium stands by himself to watch his Blues’ teammates get thumped by the Maroons by 20 points.

Ferguson wore a beanie and was barely recognised by the locals.

His face had been splashed all over the newspapers and TV because of his boozy night out that ultimately cost him his selection in the side.

But witnessing first-hand just how passionate the locals were about their Maroons struck a chord with Ferguson.

And now three years on, he will use those memories to spur him on as a player when he runs on to that same hallowed turf on Wednesday week as the Blues try to keep the ­Origin series alive.

Ferguson must first get through Saturday night’s vital Sydney Roosters clash against Melbourne.

He will be spared being shifted to fullback for the injured Latrell Mitchell, with little “jack-in-the-box’’ Connor Watson expected to start at the back for the Bondi club.

Like the other 33 players ready for Origin II, Ferguson could be forgiven for already having one eye on the Suncorp stoush when he takes the field against the Storm.

“I did witness Origin up there in 2013 after I had got sacked,’’ Ferguson said.

Blake Ferguson in action for the Blues during Origin I. Picture: Gregg Porteous

“I went up there on my own and watched it. I don’t know why I went up there. I wanted to witness it. I would have been a part of it, and I wanted to see what it was like to watch from the stands. It was tough to watch that game, and then game three when we lost.

“That’s probably where the fire got me going.’’

Ferguson, whose return to rugby league and the representative arena has been well documented, said NSW would need to “play some footy’’ north of the border if they were any chance of squaring the series.

“We got ourselves into positions to score points (in game one), we just didn’t execute the best we could have,’’ Ferguson said.

As for Saturday night’s hitout against the Storm, Ferguson will have the daunting job of trying to stop the Storm’s Fijian flyer Suliasi Vunivalu.

The Bondi boys toughed out a win against the Wests Tigers last weekend, with props Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Dylan Napa leading the charge up front.

Watson, the Central Coast teenager who caught the eye of Andrew Johns several years ago, and can play several positions, will start at fullback. He trained there on Wednesday, and again during Friday’s captain’s run.

Connor Watson will start at fullback against the Storm. Picture: Gregg Porteous

Teammate Dale Copley described Watson as “a real livewire who brings heaps of energy’’, and “can convert on some opportunities around the ruck when given the chance’’.

In a welcome sight for Roosters’ fans, Shaun Kenny-Dowall (toe) also ran for the first time on Tuesday, dropped in and out of Wednesday’s field session, but is expected to return Saturday week against the Warriors, the round-14 fixture also pencilled in for halfback Mitchell Pearce (calf).

Chooks’ coach Trent Robinson said his side was good against the Tigers, but would need to go to another level to prove any match for the Storm.

Originally published as Blake Ferguson to tackle Suncorp Stadium from a different perspective