'Nearly broke his neck': NRL star grilled over wild celebration
Blake Ferguson has been taken to task by league viewers after risking injury with a ridiculous try celebration in the NRL All-Stars match on Friday night.
The 28-year-old flipped a running back somersault after touching down in the Indigenous team’s 34-14 win over the New Zealand Maori in Melbourne.
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However, he looked like he might land on his head before pulling off the crowd-pleasing move.
Blake Ferguson almost gives Eels coach Brad Arthur a heart attack with one of the most outrageous try celebrations you'll ever see 😮😲😱
WATCH LIVE on @Channel9#9WWOS #NRLAllStars #NRL pic.twitter.com/xolubx1mY2
— NRL on Nine (@NRLonNine) February 15, 2019
Eels recruit Ferguson’s new coach Brad Arthur would no doubt have been a nervous observer after Ferguson appeared to land awkwardly from the stunt.
Fans were equally as shocked by the risky and highly unnecessary try celebration.
Geeezzz, Ferguson nearly broke his own neck with his post try celebration, forget the rugby what skill that was off of just one foot ! #NRLAllStars #NRL
— Greg (@chivers1989) February 15, 2019
If Fergo blew out his knee doing that flip i would've been pissed
It was beautifully ugly weird though #NRLAllStars
— David Lander (@Davel79) February 15, 2019
JUST HAD A HEART ATTACK!! @Fergyferg4 DONT DO THAT!!! #NRLAllStars 💙💛😝😝😝#NRLIndigenousMaori
— Sandy Hunter 🌈🐶💕 (@sandyhunter2) February 15, 2019
Latin Heat: Get some of this!
Blake Ferguson almost gives Eels coach Brad Arthur a heart attack with one of the most outrageous try celebrations you'll ever see 😮😲😱 Watch the All Stars game live on Nine. https://t.co/LVGmHsg6a3
— Andorra Rugby League (@AndorraRL) February 15, 2019
Enjoyed the freshened up NRL All Stars match. Blake Ferguson’s back flip tho, returning from a broken fibula!
— Jack Sutherland (@JackSuth17) February 15, 2019
Blake Ferguson's flip 😂😂😂 #NRLAllStars
— Luke Pendlebury (@lpendlebury93) February 15, 2019
Ferguson did well to survive that flip tbh #NRLAllStars
— James Gould (@thenamesgould) February 15, 2019
That was the worst back flip I've ever seen. Thought Blake Ferguson was going to land square on his head. #NRLAllStars
— Jim Morrison (@JimMorrison07) February 15, 2019
Ferguson almost missed the that flip.
— Ben B (@Benb55) February 15, 2019
Although his post-try celebrations need some work, there’s a lot to like about Ferguson, according to Indigenous coach Laurie Daley.
While that move might be a coach-killer, Daley said Ferguson would be a huge addition to his new club Parramatta and to their coach.
“They’ve got a really good player in Fergo going there and he’ll make a huge difference to Parramatta because they lacked a bit of go-forward last year and he will certainly give them that coming out of trouble,” Daley said.
“Brad (Arthur)’s got a good one on his hands.
“He’s got an infectious personality and you can’t help but like him.
“He rips in training and would do anything for the guys.”
Ferguson also showed he was over the broken leg he suffered in the Sydney Roosters’ grand final win, as well as an infection in his foot during the off-season.
He played out the full 80 minutes and towards the back end intercepted a ball and showed his pace in a 70m dash before being mowed down.
With AAP