SLEDGES TO SELF FIRE UP FERGY
How form star of NRL gets himself ready for opposition on field
RUGBY LEAGUE: He taunts and galvanises himself with some self-sledging, all in the third person.
Teammates and former coaches have revealed powerhouse Parramatta winger Blake Ferguson’s unusual, funny, yet effective self-motivation.
The 106kg Parramatta winger has been rugby league’s form player over the opening two rounds having run for a whopping 430 metres.
Yet his most confronting test will come tonight when Ferguson, 29, confronts former club Sydney Roosters in a big match at ANZ Stadium.
“He talks to himself on the field – he’s the best,” said Eels teammate Michael Jennings.
“Takka’ (Eels centre Brad Takairangi) is next to him on the field. He tells me Fergo yells at the opposition: ‘You can’t tackle me, mate. You can’t get me down, what’s going on?’
“Then he would say to himself: ‘C’mon Fergy Ferg (his Twitter handle), you can do this’. He always talks in the third person.
“You should ask some of his opponents what he’s like. He is always geeing up his opposition on the field. He talks to himself out there. He says he needs to motivate himself to keep himself going.”
Laure Daley coached Ferguson in the NSW side and has seen first-hand his unique motivation methods.
With a smile across his face, Daley said: “He talks to himself and gets himself going. ‘The Ferg’ is going to be good today’ or ‘Fergy’s not going to be outmuscled today’. He pumps himself up by doing it.”
Ferguson has found trouble over the years – probably because teammates claim he is easily led and a just tad naive. He also has an addictive nature and loves to help those less fortunate.
They are the same qualities which teammates love.
Ferguson is known around ruby league as being popular, funny and carefree. Some say a cuddly bear with a big smile.
Others say he simply wanders through life in his own carefree world. Even in dressing rooms, he likes to shake hands with journalists and introduce himself.
Ferguson left the Roosters last year for Parramatta after helping steer them to the premiership.
The Roosters sought to keep Ferguson but couldn’t match Parramatta’s offer. Ferguson left behind one big fan when he walked away from Bondi – Roosters chairman Nick Politis.
“I love Fergo, I’m glad he’s playing well,” Politis said. “We knew he was a great player but he got a great deal from Parramatta and we couldn’t match it.
“He talks to our club regularly, he misses us. He’s a good guy who has a good heart. He’s got no malice in him. I’m sure he will go well. We wished him all the best.”
Former Roosters teammate Luke Keary is another massive fan.
“He’s killing it this year,” Keary said. “He did last year too. We’re all happy for him. We all still love him here. It’s good. I can’t wait to see him and catch up. Fergo has been awesome.”