Canberra Raiders fans could be forgiven for thinking all their Christmases have come at once when they hear Blake Ferguson and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves were training in the capital.
Unfortunately for Green Machine supporters, they were sporting the red, white and blue of the Roosters as the 2013 premiers were put through a gruelling two-and-a-half hour workout at Raiders Belconnen on Sunday.
On Saturday the Roosters officially announced they had signed former Raiders problem child Ferguson on a one-year deal; the NRL clearing him to return after Canberra sacked him for a number of behavioural breaches.
Coming off ankle surgery in March, the 24-year-old was back of the pack in the shuttle runs, but showed glimpses of his trademark footwork and aerial skills in the opposed sessions.
It was the first and last time Ferguson will be spotted with a football in his hands in the capital this year, as the Roosters are not scheduled to play in Canberra this season.
That would be a relief to Ferguson, who would have received a hostile reception at Canberra Stadium from some fans unwilling to forgive and forget after his ugly departure.
Canberra aggressively targeted New Zealand enforcer Waerea-Hargreaves on a multi-year deal after his Roosters contract expires at the end of next year.
The Raiders took the offer off the table for the 25-year-old last week after he failed to meet a deadline to respond to the offer.
Waerea-Hargreaves was one of the favourites with Canberra-based Roosters members invited to watch Sunday's session, posing for photos and signing autographs.
Former Raider Matt McIlwrick also trained with the Roosters as he looks to lock up the number nine jersey early in the season when mainstay hooker Jake Friend is out with a shoulder injury.
The round four clash between Canberra and the Roosters in Sydney boasts plenty of sub plots with prop Frank-Paul Nu'uausala joining the Raiders on a three-year deal from next season.
The Roosters also visited the Australian Institute of Sport for testing during the week-long camp, the second straight year they have held it in Canberra.
The Roosters declined to talk to media on Sunday.
