League: Ferguson delighted to be back

Blake Ferguson is joining the Roosters. Photo / Getty Images

Blake Ferguson will be required to attend monthly welfare meetings with the NRL and Roosters officials next season to ensure his career never spirals out of control again.

After 16 months on the NRL scrapheap, Ferguson had his contract formally registered by the NRL yesterday, allowing him to become a member of the Roosters playing squad.

Ferguson took to social media to declare how much he valued the career lifeline while also stating that he owed everything to his family and girlfriend Bianca.

"Over the last 16 months, I've worked very hard to become a better person and to change what people think of me." Ferguson tweeted.

"I've had ups and downs, relapsing and falling into bad habits, but I owe everything to my family, my partner Bianca and the Sydney Roosters for showing me that I could still do something I loved. I took for granted what I had and what talent I was given and now I have been given a 2nd chance to make something of my life again.

"I would like to say thank you to everyone that has stood by me through the last 16 months good, bad and ugly.

"Happy to be a chook. I will continue to work on myself as a person and repay the faith the Roosters have shown me."

Roosters chief executive Brian Canavan confirmed Ferguson's contract included a number of safeguards.

Ferguson had his contract torn up by the Canberra Raiders in August 2013 and, by the time he steps out for the Roosters next year, will have spent almost 18 months out of the game.

"There are stipulations and criteria that have been extracted so that we as a club and Fergo [Ferguson] keep on a path and we stick to it during the year, so that we don't let anything slip," Canavan said. "We'll meet and report with NRL welfare and education staff.

"It's about checking in on the criteria that we've set for him on a monthly basis and to make sure nothing gets overlooked."

Asked if he expected criticism for signing Ferguson, Canavan said: "Not really. I think the initial reaction was that way when there was talk Blake may join us. But we got a similar reaction when we contracted Sonny Bill [Williams], too, and that turned out all right."

Canavan said the NRL considered registering the contract only after Ferguson had undergone regular counselling. He also completed community work and former club captain Brad Fittler was used as a mentor. Ferguson had also placed himself on an alcohol ban.

Canavan said the club didn't feel it necessary to enforce their own additional booze ban. "We're not going to impose that on him because we find they don't work," Canavan said.

Ferguson underwent surgery to his foot in November and is likely to make his first appearance for the club in their February 7 trial match against Penrith or February 21 trial against Manly.

He won't play in next month's Auckland Nines.