PINOCCHIO'S restaurant at Randwick is doing its usual solid Sunday night trade.

In walk four of the biggest names in Australian sport - Sonny Bill Williams, Blake Ferguson, Anthony Mundine and the controversial agent Khoder Nasser.

It’s a popular steakhouse and bar that eastern suburbs celebrities regularly frequent.

The four are there to talk footy and boxing, plus the next career move for the troubled but talented Ferguson, no doubt the conversation as sizzling as the chicken schnitzel.

There’s no alcohol at this table. Mundine, Nasser and SBW don’t drink. Ferguson is trying to give it up, although apparently not all that successfully.

He’s been spotted at a Canberra nightclub and the Gymea Hotel in the last seven days.

On top of the agenda is the fact the blockbusting Origin star wants out from the last two years of his Canberra Raiders contract, as exclusively reported in The Daily Telegraph last week.

One of the options being considered is Ferguson replacing Sonny Bill at the Roosters next year.

Khoder is not Ferguson’s manager but Mundine has taken his nephew to the restaurant to get some advice.

Afterall, Khoder is an expert at getting his boys out of clubs and sports where they don’t want to be, with absolutely no regard for the public backlash that generally comes with it.

The Raiders had always feared Ferguson would turn to Khoder and his ‘family’ of elite athletes.

When I rang coach Dave Furner last week to inform him Ferguson wanted out, he asked: “He hasn’t linked up with Khoder has he?”

Mundine also wanted Ferguson there to speak to Sonny Bill, not necessarily about his football.

In his early years, SBW had similar behavioural issues to Ferguson, most of them alcohol related.

Today he is not just a superstar athlete, but a model citizen.

He is credited for almost single-handedly changing the booze and nightclub culture that existed at the Sydney Roosters before his arrival.

Mundine firmly believes Ferguson has as much natural talent as the champion Roosters back-rower, former All Black and heavyweight boxer.

He’s genuinely convinced he needs to get him out of the national capital to achieve all his goals.

To have him in Sydney, under his own care.

Although it wasn’t discussed over dinner, the mail is getting stronger and stronger that Sonny Bill is moving next year too, heading back to rugby union.

He is believed to have already committed to Super Rugby champions the Chiefs with the eventual goal of winning a rugby union World Cup with the All Blacks.

He will also fight before the start of the rugby season and probably end up making more than $1.5 million-a-year.

That’s the secret with Khoder, Mundine and these private dinners.

On the surface it can look bad, but realistically, it might be what Ferguson needs to get his life and footy career back on the rails.

Originally published as Khoder helps plot Fergo's exit