Former Canberra Raiders and Cronulla Sharks star Blake Ferguson could one day be officiating in the NRL after completing a refereeing course.

The New South Wales Rugby League Referees Association (NSWRLRA) tweeted Ferguson was “exemplary” in the way he handled the program.

Ferguson was deregistered by the NRL in 2013 after he was found guilty of indecent assault after groping a 24-year-old woman during a boozy night out in Cronulla.

He was banned from pubs, clubs and bottleshops at his appeal hearing in Sydney, with the judge upholding the charge but set aside his conviction on the provision he stay away from alcohol outlets and seek counselling for alchol abuse.

Last month, Ferguson had an application to join the Sydney Roosters rejected by the NRL, with the sport’s governing body citing his record of conduct over the last two years.

NRL chief operating officer Jim Doyle said Ferguson had given an undertaking that he would undergo a program of clinical support and counselling before the NRL would consider registering him and this is not yet complete.

Doyle said the NRL would consider any future application for Ferguson to return to the NRL, warning a relevant factor in a decision would be whether the player was engaged in and completed appropriate clinical support and counselling.