Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson believes Blake Ferguson stayed in control of his emotions against the Raiders because he holds no angst towards his former club.
Ferguson's first game against the club that punted him for a series of off-field misdemeanours didn't quite go to script, leaving the field with a foot injury in the Roosters' 34-6 demolition of Canberra on Sunday afternoon.
The Roosters centre left the stadium on crutches, in a moon boot, and was due to have scans on the injury match, but Robinson was unclear on the severity. "It's hard to know," Robinson said. "You could see him hobbling around there so we got him off. The answer is I'm not sure."
After almost two years out of the game after he was sacked by the Raiders, Ferguson lined up against his ex-club for the first time. However, Robinson insists Ferguson wasn't caught up in the emotion of the contest, coming to terms with the fact his sacking at the Raiders was his own wrongdoing.
"Sometimes it can turn pear-shaped," Robinson said. "I've seen guys in different times over the years not play against their old club well and not handle it well. But Blake did that. It's a pity he came off with a bit of a foot injury.
"There's a lot of respect there for Canberra, he knows that he was the issue. It had nothing to do with Canberra. There's a lot of respect there for Canberra, it's not an anger thing, which a lot of players play with. Therefore it was easier to keep the emotion in check."
The Roosters racked up their third win from four games to start the year, comfortably accounting for the hapless Raiders.
However, the victory could come at a price, soured by the injury to their star recruit. Ferguson, who scored a try in the opening half, was attempting to get around former teammate Jarrod Croker to collect his second when he picked up the injury.
The 25-year-old tried to play on through the pain before he eventually succumbed to the injury in the 58th minute, taken up the tunnel for treatment.
While his preparation for next week's game against Cronulla is likely to be hampered, Robinson insists there was nothing different about his lead up to Sunday's game against the Raiders.
"Sometimes you get signs in the week that guys change a bit," Robinson said.
"They either go quiet or talk more or do something different in the week that you know that they are thinking that game a lot when they are playing a big game or a different club. But I talked to Blake and there was no difference in him. That's important to look for, because it's hard to change that. It's not when they are at training, it's when they are at home thinking about playing this team or that team. Blake seem like he had that in order."
While Ferguson was unable to play a starring role, halfback Mitchell Pearce was at his sublime best in the victory.
The former NSW Blues No.7 played a hand in setting up five of his side's tries, continuing his impressive opening to the new season at the expense of the Raiders.
After winning their opening round clash against the Sharks away from home, Ricky Stuart's men haven't won a game and never looked like bucking that trend against last year's minor premiers.
The Roosters scored two tries in the first 12 minutes of each half, setting the tone in both halves to dictate terms for the entirety of the match. The Roosters' entire backline - barring Pearce - scored a try in the six tries to one victory.
