Flying Ferguson's effort helps young Blues retain title

Ethan Ferguson produced a spectacular effort on the wing when he defied the sideline to touch the ball down for the second try of the night and help his New South Wales Under 19 side get out to a strong start in their 32-14 win.

One of three players called Ethan to get on the scoreboard for the young Blues at Kayo Stadium - including Ethan Strange, who bagged a hat-trick - the visitors started well, but were made to fight by the Queensland side before they were able to secure back-to-back victories in the representative fixture.

“It was unreal to play in front of this whole crowd … it's unreal experience,” Ferguson said after the victory.

“I've worked so hard to get here, we have all worked so hard to get here. I can't put in the words, it's just awesome.

“(Scoring that try) was good, it hurt a bit the landing but, it was all good … it just happened so quick.

“It was unreal and especially being able to represent my culture at the end there after the try was awarded just iced it all.”

His New South Wales coach, former Blue Andrew Ryan said Ferguson’s try characterised the efforts of his young side throughout the night.

“It was over in the far corner away from us as and it was hard for myself and (assistant coach) Shaun Timmins to see in the coach's box, but there was a couple of millimetres in it I reckon,” Ryan said.

“Ethan Strange, obviously got a hat trick and fumbled and scored the one too, so there was some big efforts out there tonight … some big plays for us there tonight.

“That's some things we've been speaking about all week, turning up on those little efforts and fighting for each other.”

Feats like this try will help Ferguson – who made the tough decision to move away from his familiar surroundings in Newcastle where he played SG Ball and join up with South Sydney for Jersey Flegg – make his own name in the game.

“(I do have) footy through the bloodline; Trell (Latrell Mitchell) back at Souths, Shaq (Shaquai Mitchell) back at Souths, Blake Ferguson; so it's a little blood line going on,” Ferguson said.

“But as much as it’s cool to be their cousin, I am trying to try and make a name for myself so will just keep going from here.”

On the camp and his preparation for the game, Ferguson, who also slotted four conversions, said he took a lot from the opposed session the side took part in against the senior men’s side on Sunday.

“Prep was amazing,” Ferguson said. “We've always played with each other or against each other already all year, so we kind of just gelled straight away and those who were a bit awkward at the start were all good at the end. We're all family now.

“We trained hard, had an opposed against the first grade side, which was a really cool experience and that's definitely helped us to get to this point now, so it was great.

“I think camp helped us all, just gelling straight away and we saw from the first 10-15 minutes we got on the front foot, but then lost it there and that's just Origin, you never know what's going to happen next in Origin.