Playing Career
Vital Statistics
- Nickname(s)
- Chicka
- Born
- Thursday, 15th July, 1954
- Current Age
- 69 years and 310 days
- Place Of Birth
- Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Awards & Accolades
- Dally M Winger Of The Year
- 1985, 1988
Biography
Durable winger defied the years during a long career that ultimately brought back-to-back grand final wins with the Raiders in 1989-90. Ferguson represented Country Seconds as a 23-year-old from Glenn Innes in 1977 and was lured to Newtown two years later. He played on the wing in the club’s 1981 grand final loss to P’matta but moved to Easts following the Jets' demise in 1983. Turning to England Ferguson scored two tries in Wigan's Wembley Cup final win in 1985. After debuting for NSW that year, he played in three Tests on the Australian tour of NZ. It was with his efforts playing for Canberra in the late 1980s that Ferguson confirmed his reputation as one of the quickest and most elusive wingers in the game. After recovering from a serious knee injury which saw him miss the 1987 grand final he returned in 1988 and was the season's leading try-scorer with 20 tries. A darting, weaving run in the 1989 grand final against Balmain resulted in Ferguson scoring the try that sent the match into extra-time. When he finally retired after the club's 1990 grand final win over Penrith, 'Chicka' Ferguson was still in fine form. As a favour to former Newtown guru John Singleton he played in the club's opening match in the 1992 Metropolitan Cup competition.
- ALAN WHITICKER
Playing Career Statistics
All statistics shown in this section are based only on data available in the RLP database, and are not necessarily a complete and/or 100% accurate representation of a player's career. This information should be used as a guide only. If you see a question mark (?), it denotes that the figure is not available.
To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.
Competitions | ||||||||||||||
Competition | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Midweek Cup | 23 | 6 | - | - | 18 | 12 | 10 | 1 | 52.17% | List | ||||
Preseason Cup | 1 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | List | ||||
NSWRFL/NSWRL Premiership (NRL) | 200 | 106 | - | - | 399 | 103 | 88 | 9 | 51.50% | List | ||||
NSWRFL/NSWRL Finals | 13 | 5 | - | - | 19 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 61.54% | List | ||||
English Championship | 16 | 13 | - | - | 52 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 81.25% | List | ||||
Lancashire Cup | 4 | 3 | - | - | 12 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 75.00% | List | ||||
Regal Trophy | 2 | 3 | - | - | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 50.00% | List | ||||
Challenge Cup | 3 | 5 | - | - | 20 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | List | ||||
City vs Country Firsts | 1 | 1 | - | - | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | List | ||||
State of Origin | 8 | 1 | - | - | 4 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 25.00% | List | ||||
Test Series | 3 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 1 | 0 | 66.67% | List | ||||
World Cup | 1 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | List | ||||
City vs Country | 2 | 1 | - | - | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.00% | List | ||||
UK Second Division | 1 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | List | ||||
World Club Challenge | 1 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | List | ||||
Challenge Cup AU | 4 | 1 | - | - | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | List | ||||
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Test Matches - By Team | ||||||||||||||
Team | Years | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||
Australia | 1985 | 3 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 1 | 0 | 66.67% | List | |||
World Cup Matches - By Team | ||||||||||||||
Team | Years | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||
Australia | 1985 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | List | |||
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Australia - By Team | ||||||||||||||
Team | Years | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||
Northern Division | 1977-78 | 5 | 4 | - | - | 12 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 60.00% | List | |||
NSW Country Seconds | 1977 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | List | |||
NSW | 1985, 1988-89 | 8 | 1 | - | - | 4 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 25.00% | List | |||
NSW City Firsts | 1985 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | List | |||
NSW Country | 1988-89 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.00% | List | |||
Overall | 1977-1989 | 17 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 6 | 11 | 0 | 35.29% | List | |||
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NSWRFL/NSWRL Premiership (NRL) - By Year | ||||||||||||||
Team | Season | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||
Newtown | NSWRFL 1981 | 24 | 10 | - | - | 30 | 15 | 8 | 1 | 62.50% | List | |||
Newtown | NSWRFL 1982 | 25 | 15 | - | - | 45 | 13 | 10 | 2 | 52.00% | List | |||
Newtown | NSWRFL 1983 | 25 | 15 | - | - | 60 | 7 | 16 | 2 | 28.00% | List | |||
Eastern Suburbs | NSWRL 1984 | 18 | 10 | - | - | 40 | 5 | 12 | 1 | 27.78% | List | |||
Eastern Suburbs | NSWRL 1985 | 14 | 6 | - | - | 24 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 42.86% | List | |||
Canberra | NSWRL 1986 | 19 | 4 | - | - | 16 | 6 | 12 | 1 | 31.58% | List | |||
Canberra | NSWRL 1987 | 2 | 2 | - | - | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | List | |||
Canberra | NSWRL 1988 | 24 | 20 | - | - | 80 | 15 | 9 | 0 | 62.50% | List | |||
Canberra | NSWRL 1989 | 25 | 11 | - | - | 44 | 17 | 8 | 0 | 68.00% | List | |||
Canberra | NSWRL 1990 | 24 | 13 | - | - | 52 | 17 | 6 | 1 | 70.83% | List | |||
NSWRFL/NSWRL Premiership (NRL) - By Team | ||||||||||||||
Team | Years | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||
Newtown | 1981-83 | 74 | 40 | - | - | 135 | 35 | 34 | 5 | 47.30% | List | |||
Eastern Suburbs | 1984-85 | 32 | 16 | - | - | 64 | 11 | 19 | 2 | 34.38% | List | |||
Canberra | 1986-90 | 94 | 50 | - | - | 200 | 57 | 35 | 2 | 60.64% | List | |||
Overall | 1981-1990 | 200 | 106 | 0 | 0 | 399 | 103 | 88 | 9 | 51.50% | List | |||
English Career - By Year | ||||||||||||||
Team | Season | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||
Wigan | 1984/85 | 25 | 24 | - | - | 96 | 20 | 5 | 0 | 80.00% | List | |||
Carlisle | 1988/89 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | List | |||
English Career - By Team | ||||||||||||||
Team | Years | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||
Wigan | 1984 | 25 | 24 | - | - | 96 | 20 | 5 | 0 | 80.00% | List | |||
Carlisle | 1988 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | List | |||
Overall | 1984-1989 | 26 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 96 | 20 | 6 | 0 | 76.92% | List |
Contributions:
AJ Lucantonio, Rugby League Tables, Andrew Ferguson, Shawn Dollin, Paul Carter, Greg Fiveash, Alan Katzmann, Max Turner, Bill Bates
Sources:
David Middleton's Rugby League Yearbook (1987-88 to present), Match Video, Irvin Saxton's Record Keepers' Club, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook (1981-82 to 1999)
Your Say
16/03/2011
'Chicka' was one of the best and under rated wingers the game had. He used to light up Seiffert Oval and Bruce Stadium like no one else. His ability to scoot from dummy half would have made him a revelation in the modern day game. He was also a gentleman to go with it.
24/04/2011
He used to light up Meade Park in Glen Innes for a few years before moving to Newtown. Incredible player!
28/04/2011
A great role model and a good friend.
18/06/2011
I remember johnny from south grafton high school, and a nicer young man you wouldnt find. He was actually very shy, but a great cross-country runner.
04/06/2012
iv worked with chicka 08_2011 very nice bloke still see him around. still looks fit
16/02/2013
Did Chicka play with a Grafton team (I think the Ghosts) in 1974?
04/05/2014
NOTICE NO ONE MENTION ALL THE YEARS HE PLAYED WITH SOUTH GRAFTON REBELS PLAYED HIS UNDER 18 TEENS WOULD THEN RUN ON FOR FIRST GRADE REP GROUP 1 MANY TIMES LATE 60 to 70/s SHOULD BE ELECTED IN TO THE SOUTH GRAFT ON TEAM OF THE CENTURY AT THE 100 YEARS ANNIVERSARY AT SOUTH GRAFTON EX SERVICES CLUB 10/5/2014 EX TRAINER
17/06/2014
I was fortunate enough to call league for Channel TEN in 1989 featuring the Canberra Raiders.
I remember one day at Seiffert Oval after he scored an amazing try down the sideline the entire crowd erupting for minutes with the chant "Chicka,Chicka"
They loved him and I did too. Great winger and a modest gentleman.-Peter Chapman
19/04/2015
pound for pound one of the best ! loved a bacardi and coke and a very humble man and great australian, thanks Johnny for all those tries !
23/08/2015
A fantastic player for wigan and a true gentleman off the field wish there were more like him
20/03/2017
Gifted winger an excitement machine .!
14/05/2017
wonderful player at wigan ,a pleasure to watch
07/01/2019
I remember “Chicka” playing for The Roosters what a great player very underrated except by those who played with or against him.. great turn of speed and try scorer thanks for the memories mate
22/02/2020
Even after all these years I remember his try at Warrington in the Challenge Cup playing along side Brett Kenny.One of my favourite Wigan Players of all time and a special person as well.
28/03/2020
Should have played for nsw and australia a lot more brilliant winger
21/05/2023
I was a young ball boy at Meade Park Glen Innes when Fergy as we all called him would just work his magic. Sunday afternoon with almost the whole town in attendance witnessing an absolute master of deception , scoring tries at will. I can still hear Nanna “ Give the ball to Fergy “. Johnny Ferguson energised the whole crowd . As a boy I new this man was something very special.
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