Speculation surrounding Blake Ferguson's playing future continues to mount after he was spotted at a Sydney pub alongside Cronulla star Todd Carney the night before missing Canberra's NRL clash against Manly.
Ferguson was a no-show at the Raiders' 36-22 loss to Manly at Canberra Stadium on Sunday afternoon, advising club CEO Don Furner hours before kick-off that he had a family-related commitment in Sydney.
The controversial NSW Origin player was photographed the night before at the Clovelly Hotel alongside Carney.
It is understood he is being chased by his former club Cronulla, as a get-out clause was triggered in his Raiders contract last week when coach David Furner was sacked.
Ferguson's situation in Canberra remains murky.
Although not picked in the Raiders' match day team, interim coach Andrew Dunemann advised that Ferguson was fit to play on Sunday after recovering from a leg injury.
"Everyone loves Fergo, but we all know that he needs to get off the field right as well as on the field," Dunemann said after Sunday's match.
It's the second consecutive week Ferguson chose to be in Sydney instead of cheering on his struggling teammates.
However Furner said he was satisfied with Ferguson's explanation on why he couldn't attend the match.
"I rang him, to see if he would be at the game, and he rang me back to tell me where he was," Furner said.
"I passed it on to (interim coach Andrew Dunemann), and they were happy with it, and I believed him.
"If he's sitting there (at the Clovelly Hotel) having a meal, that's his prerogative."
