Former Leigh star’s new club involved in ugly brawl as police called and huge bans dished out

Leigh Leopards having a hell of a season but their 2022 campaign wasn’t bad either with the then Centurions storming the Championship, losing just once, and also winning the 1895 Cup and they did so with plenty of star players such as current Leeds Rhinos’ men Nene Macdonald and Luis Roberts as well as former Australia international Blake Ferguson.

The outside backs of Ferguson and Macdonald absolutely tore up the Championship with the pair combining for a total of 44 tries in just 36 league games.

Fans were excited to see Ferguson, a former New South Wales standout, feature in Super League but sadly that wasn’t to be the case as he returned to Australia for his former club Thirlmere-Tahmoor Roosters.

Since then Ferguson has joined another club and it was during a game for them that a major brawl was sparked which led to the arrival of police and an ambulance.

The incident happening on July 23rd, just over a week ago with Ferguson recalling it to the Daily Telegraph on the 26th explaining what triggered it.

“I think it was a racist comment from the home team, their fan base”.

“It’s not good for kids to be seeing that type of stuff,” he said.

“I know they called an ambulance and that people were speaking with police. I know that there was an altercation. We just kept the players on the field and the ref called it off.

“We just went into the sheds and went home, to be honest. I didn’t see much because I was on the field. I haven’t heard anything or spoken to anyone today about it.”

It’s now been confirmed by New South Wales Rugby League that five people have been banned for their involvement, two players and three fans and the biggest of those bans goes to a Wellington fan.

That ban is a huge two years which means the fan won’t be able to partake in or attend any rugby league related activities whilst serving that ban.

It was also confirmed by the Daily Telegraph that each club was hit with a suspended $3,000 fine, approximately £1,500.

Forbes were also docked two points in every grade, not just their senior side, with the bans ranging from nine weeks up to two years for the fans and the players receiving two and six week bans.

NSWRL Chief Executive David Trodden told the Telegraph: “The penalties at this stage are only proposed but the penalties that have been proposed are harsh – and they are harsh for reason.”

“The game cannot tolerate the behaviour of the sort that was on display at Forbes.

“Hopefully everybody in the game will receive the message that this type of behaviour won’t be tolerated.”