Old mates, new enemies

Carney was for so long the chosen one at the Canberra Raiders, while Ferguson rose to prominence with the Cronulla Sharks.

How times change.

The pair will play pivotal roles, albeit on opposite sides, when the Raiders host the Sharks in Sunday's elimination final at Canberra Stadium.

Both are absolutely brilliant on the field, but have collected considerable baggage along the way.

Carney's checkered history is well-known.

The Raiders finally lost patience with him in 2008 after a string of off-field incidents, before his stint at the Sydney Roosters was cut short at the end of the 2011 season.

The Sharks threw the talented playmaker a lifeline, and he's repaid them tenfold.

Improved discipline away from football coincided with Carney making his State of Origin debut for NSW.

His creative spark and ability to carve a defence to shreds is seen as the missing link in the Sharks winning their first premiership in the club's 45-year existence.

That lack of success was a key reason Ferguson cited for his departure from the Shire at the end of 2010.

Ferguson has moved on, but you can bet any Sharks fans who make the trek to Canberra will be into him every time he gets his hands on the ball.

''I've been gone from the club for two years now, I'm just looking forward to playing this weekend,'' Ferguson said.

''I'm really enjoying footy and just having fun out there.''

Ferguson has been a revelation since being moved infield from the wing to the centres, crossing for a double in last weekend's 42-22 thumping of the New Zealand Warriors.

The 22-year-old this year earned his first taste of representative football with a starring performance for Country. Raiders legend Mal Meninga believes it's just the start of a rise which could take Ferguson all the way to a Kangaroos jersey.

''I think he's got the potential to play for NSW and higher honours if he keeps that consistent form going,'' Meninga said.

''He's had a great year. When he was playing on the wing to begin with I thought he started very well and has been very consistent for the Raiders all year.

''In the centres is probably his best position, he's making some really good decisions and helping the team out enormously with his runs. ''He's added that aggression into the centres and when he makes decisions he makes really good decisions.

''He's shutting down attack which is good for that right spot.

''He's in fine form.''

That impressive form will only increase the pain for Sharks fans, still seething over Ferguson's comments made when he joined the Raiders at the end of 2010, where he said he wanted to join a club which could win a premiership.

The statement appeared foolish as the Raiders floundered in Ferguson's first year at the club, winning just six games and narrowly avoiding the wooden spoon.

That caused Sharks coach Shane Flanagan to remark: ''He said he wanted to go to a team that was going to win the competition … I think he picked the wrong club''.

Ferguson received a torrid reception at his first visit back to Toyota Stadium last year, getting beer poured on him by unruly fans as he left the ground.

While his immense talent has never been in question, he has gained a ''rocks or diamonds'' reputation for combining brilliant play with costly errors.

Those peaks and troughs have levelled out this year as a result of being moved to the centres, where he has formed an exciting combination with mid-season recruit Sandor Earl.

''Having Sandor there takes a little bit of pressure off me and that's helped,'' Ferguson said.

''I've always played centre in the juniors and I'm really enjoying it.

''You don't have to go searching for the ball. It just comes to you, so you can play your own game.''

But it hasn't all been smooth sailing.

Ferguson was handed a one-match ban earlier this season for arriving to a training session under the influence of alcohol.

As far as he's concerned, he has served his punishment and put the incident behind him.

The results on the field speak for themselves.

The Raiders' backline was in red-hot form against the Warriors, despite missing star fullback Josh Dugan and halfback Sam Williams.

Reece Robinson showed he is one of the competition's most-improved players with a great game in the No.1 jersey, while veteran utility Shaun Berrigan filled in admirably for Williams.

''Our outside backs have been unreal,'' Raiders captain David Shillington said.

''We were disappointed to lose Duges, but having someone like Reece is a good fall back.''