Blake Ferguson has criticized rugby league officials for failing to help with medical costs on his badly damaged nose, but fans have hit back at the former NRL star’s “right”.
Ferguson took to Instagram on Wednesday night to say that he had broken his nose more than eight times during his 13-year NRL career, leaving him struggling to sleep at night.
Under current policy, clubs will cover the gap in medical expenses between a player’s private health insurance and the full cost for the first 12 months after retirement.
Ferguson’s last match was at Parramatta in 2021, leaving him out of that window after a failed attempt to play rugby union in Japan and a stint in the English Super League last season.
“After playing 15 years in the NRL system, playing 249 games for four NRL teams, winning a grand final, seven games for Australia, nine games for NSW… and breaking my nose more than eight times, you’d think they’d fix it. Ferguson posted in instagram.
‘I dedicated my life and my body to the game.
‘But no, I’ve been told because I went to Japan and England and it’s been more than 12 months, that I’m not eligible for medical treatment to fix it.
‘What’s happening? The dead person struggles to sleep at night and puts bums in the seats for you and you want to just throw a person into the kirb(sic) once he retires.
‘Absolute joke’.
Ferguson posted the graphic image of his broken nose on Instagram and criticized the NRL for failing to help pay for surgery to repair it.
Ferguson was championed by a host of current and former NRL players, including Latrell Mitchell and Andrew Fifita.
Ferguson’s post has received support from leading NRL figures including Latrell Mitchell, Josh Addo-Carr and Andrew Fifita.
‘What I have witnessed when I was a young fulla going into a system with you, it showed a lot of professionalism. I love you bra. Bums in the seat for a game that forgets its greatest assets,” Mitchell posted.
Earlier, retired Cronulla Sharks mainstay Andrew Fifita had spoken about how difficult it was to organize proper medical treatment within 12 months.
“I have 12 months to finish it, and I feel like I’m rushing to fix everything,” he said.
“I think being 12 months is a bit as***, but I feel like that’s why what the RLPA is doing is important. [with the collective bargaining agreement].
“I always heard from previous players that they said how important it was to check your body [before retirement] so you can get everything you need.
Ferguson celebrates a win with teammate Mitch Moses during his NRL playing days with Parramatta Eels
However, fans have criticized Ferguson, saying that he should foot the bill himself.
It is a job like any other. No one makes up for the bricklayer with missing back, knees, etc., or the nurse whose body is broken after years of lifting patients,” a fan posted.
‘What about the thousands of amateur players who paid their own insurance and hospital bills with much lower salaries? You should have spent your money a little more wisely,” posted another.
‘You chose to play the game at that level and I’m sure you were paid a substantial amount of money as you played, so it’s your own responsibility. Stop being self-sufficient,’ another fan fumed.
‘For work injuries to be covered by insurance, the claim must be filed within a time frame specified by the insurer. Why rich NRL players should be any different asked another.
‘Pay for it with what they paid you to play. I’ve made my living painting cars up to my knees and haven’t been paid anywhere near what these guys get for playing a game they love to play,” another replied.
“Dude, you can afford to buy a Ferrari,” said another.
Ferguson scored 161 tries for club, state and country during a long career that included representative football and a season in England.
Ferguson and former New South Wales teammate Josh Dugan during a State of Origin training camp
Fergson’s post comes after the Rugby League Players’ Association lobbied hard in the latest wage negotiations to include a fund for long-term medical support for players after they retire.
Ferguson’s case would probably fit into that, as the RLPA believe his circumstances are an example of why the fund should exist to help injured players in the NRL or NRLW.
The need for the fund was agreed in principle in negotiations with the NRL, but scope, eligibility and funding still needs to be worked out.
The full collective bargaining agreement will also need to be finalized before anything is enacted.