Desperate ex-NRL star Blake Ferguson had to book himself into rehab to deal with childhood trauma after going on a massive bender that saw him jailed after cocaine bust in Japan
- Former NRL star Blake Ferguson attended rehab on Sydney’s northern beaches
- The 32-year-old has long battled alcohol addiction, also dramas with gambling
- Was arrested in Japan after bar incident, police then found cocaine in his wallet
- $1.5million rugby contract was ripped up, given a recent lifeline by Leigh in UK
Fallen NRL star Blake Ferguson recently attended a rehab facility on Sydney’s northern beaches after an alcohol-fuelled bender in Japan last December saw him jailed for cocaine possession.
The former Eels, NSW and Kangaroos winger opened up about his demons at the South Pacific Private Hospital on Sydney’s northern beaches, placing heavy focus on early childhood drama he endured.
At the age of 13, Ferguson was taken into the custody of the Department of Community Services (DOCS) after his mother Retta was ruled to be an unfit parent.
Ferguson also hasn’t spent much time with his paternal father Steve Lyons, and moved to Wellington in Central Western NSW as a teenager.
He said his childhood was littered with ‘traumatic experiences’ and he had to ‘go back and remember some uncomfortable things’ while baring his soul in rehab.
Ferguson’s problems with alcohol – as well as gambling – across the course of his NRL career with Cronulla, Canberra, the Roosters and Parramatta are well documented.
Ex-NRL star Blake Ferguson recently attended a rehab facility on Sydney’s northern beaches after an alcohol-fuelled bender in Japan last December saw him jailed for cocaine possession (pictured, with partner Dominique Moraitis)
Ferguson’s Tokyo arrest saw his $1.5 million rugby contract ripped up by the NEC Green Rockets
Having ‘one drink’ on Mad Monday after the Eels were bundled out of the semi-finals last year set off a chain of events which culminated in his Tokyo arrest.
‘I hadn’t had a single drink for a year but I decided to celebrate the end of the season with the boys. I just started drinking without even thinking about it,’ he told the Courier Mail.
‘I had been a good boy, gone sober all year, and decided to have just one night.’
Problem was, that ‘one night’ saw Ferguson again fall victim to the demon drink.
Having signed a rugby contract with NEC Green Rockets in Japan, the club wanted their prized recruit to fly over from Australia immediately.
Without the support of his partner Dominique Moraitis, Ferguson began drinking heavily most nights.
On December 30, Ferguson was taken into police custody for allegedly assaulting a man in a Tokyo bar.
Ferguson (pictured left in green during his brief time in Japan) battled alcohol addiction across his NRL career and also had issues with gambling
He was then placed in a holding cell and found to be in possession of cocaine.
Ferguson spent the next 29 days in a four-metre by three-metre cell and was only allowed out for 10 minutes each day ‘for a bit of a stretch’.
His lucrative rugby contract – said to be worth $1.5million – was torn up by the Rockets and all Ferguson wanted to do was return home to Australia.
He pleaded guilty to the criminal charges and now has to earn back the respect of his partner, who was understandably furious at news of Ferguson’s arrest.
Having signed a six-month deal to play for Leigh Centurions in the UK, Ferguson is confident he can keep his nose clean.
Beyond November, he isn’t sure what the next step will be – but the decision will be whatever is best for his family.
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