A circus. Ridiculous.

Canberra interim coach Andrew Dunemann agrees with both descriptions of controversial star Blake Ferguson’s continued absence from the NRL club.

The troubled 23-year-old still hadn’t returned to Canberra from Sydney for Raiders training on Wednesday afternoon.

That means the Raiders fly to Auckland on Thursday morning for a must-win NRL clash against the Warriors on Saturday with Ferguson’s uncertain future at the club still hanging over them.

The Raiders tried to contact Ferguson numerous times on Wednesday after he didn’t show up for a meeting with club CEO Don Furner the night before.

It’s understood he’s advised the club to call his uncle Anthony Mundine, but they had no success in doing so.

Ferguson chose to be in Sydney instead of watching his teammates’ last two crucial home games.

It’s believed he wants out of the Canberra club to be closer to family and friends in Sydney in 2014.

His most recent no-show comes just one week after the coach who stuck his neck out for him, David Furner, was sacked by the club.

When asked if the whole saga was becoming a bit ridiculous, Dunemann replied: “Yeah it is, but like I said the board are handling it and I’ll leave it to them.”

A circus?

“I think so,” Dunemann said.

The 12th-placed Raiders must beat the Warriors in Auckland and then the Sharks in Canberra to have any chance of finishing in the top eight.

Dunemann admitted Ferguson’s behaviour had been a slight distraction for the squad.

“It is initially, but I think they’re now past it to be honest,” he said.

Asked if there needed to be hardline stance taken on off-field indiscretions, he said “There needs to be seen to be punishment for people who don’t want to abide by what the rest of them do.”

Canberra captain Terry Campese, who is returning from a two-week injury stint on the sidelines, said Ferguson’s disappearance wouldn’t be too big a distraction.

“We’re just worried about this weekend and the 17 players named to play,” he said.