Campese backs Ferguson to bite his former club - Canberra Times - The Canberra Times

Blake Ferguson during Raiders' training on Saturday morning. Photo: Rohan Thomson

CRONULLA tried but failed to lure Blake Ferguson back to the Shire, and Raiders skipper Terry Campese has backed the star centre to make the Sharks pay on Sunday after rating Canberra's back line the NRL's best.

Cronulla playmaker Todd Carney, Campese's former halves partner at Canberra, tried to convince former Shark Ferguson to return home.

The quest came to nought when Ferguson signed a contract extension with the Raiders until the end of 2015.

It is a stunning about-face by the Sharks, who were fuming when Ferguson signed with the Raiders in 2011 citing a desire to play for a premiership contender.

Campese couldn't resist a cheeky dig at Cronulla when asked about their interest in Ferguson.

''Bad luck to them now, he's re-signed here for two years,'' Campese said.

''I think anyone in the competition would love to have Fergo in their side the way he's playing.''

Ferguson has been in devastating form, scoring five tries in Canberra's past two wins over Melbourne and Newcastle to leap into Origin contention.

Ferguson had an option in his favour at Canberra for next year, and Fairfax Media revealed last week Carney and Sharks coach Shane Flanagan had contacted him about a return to Cronulla.

Ferguson has enjoyed plenty of plaudits, but Campese said he's one piece of a damaging back five which has helped Canberra pile on 13 tries the past two weeks.

Winger Sandor Earl scored a hat-trick against Newcastle last week and centre Jack Wighton, who was singled out for praise by NSW assistant coach Trent Barrett last month, is continuing to impress.

The Raiders haven't missed a beat after Reece Robinson replaced sacked fullback Josh Dugan in the No.1 jersey early in the season.

''With the outside backs we do have, if you look across the board it's almost the best in the competition,'' Campese said.

''The better quality early ball they get, the more damage they do and they're putting their hands up for Origin.'' Robinson, Ferguson, Earl, Wighton and Edrick Lee boast just 231 games of combined NRL experience.

They have scored 25 tries between them this year, the same number as the entire Sharks side, despite Wighton being the only one to play all nine games.

Canberra fancies its chances on the edges, but must first win a key forward battle with Cronulla's pack laden with stars despite Paul Gallen's absence with a knee injury.

Ferguson's opposite number Jonathan Wright can expect plenty of traffic after his nightmare performance for the Bulldogs against the Raiders last year.

Playing on the wing, Wright was brutally exposed by the Raiders lethal right side in a 34-6 round 25 belting at Canberra Stadium.

But Raiders coach David Furner has been impressed by Wright's form since joining Cronulla this year, believing he is better suited to centre.

''I think he's a centre, he's been playing some good football,'' Furner said.

''It's a specialist position and a big difference in terms of positioning, I definitely feel he's more suited there.

''I really rate the Cronulla pack, it's strong with or without Gallen.

''For our back line to get that early ball and space they've had, our forwards need to do a job.''