State of Origin 2017: Blake Ferguson, Josh Dugan hit booze before Origin I

THE club manager at the centre of the latest allegations aimed at Josh Dugan and Blake Ferguson described them as “well behaved” after details of another pre-Origin booze-up were revealed.

THE club manager at the centre of the latest allegations aimed at Josh Dugan and Blake Ferguson described them as “reasonably well behaved” after details of another pre-Origin booze-up were revealed on Wednesday.

They were described as “typical boofhead footballers” who were told at one stage by the duty manager to settle down but club management was not overly concerned with their behaviour.

Details emerged of Dugan and Ferguson drinking during a day off in the lead-up to Origin I.

KINGSCLIFF, AUSTRALIA — MAY 25: Josh Dugan and Blake Ferguson talk during a New South Wales Blues State of Origin training session at Cudgen Leagues Club on May 25, 2017 in Kingscliff, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

This followed other revelations of the duo being unable to fulfil media commitments before game two because of a heavy drinking session and that they spent eight hours at the Lennox Head hotel five days before Origin III.

The pair were at Kingscliff Beach Bowls Club on the Friday before Origin I.

They were offered a courtesy bus back to the team’s hotel — about a 15-minute drive — but opted to move onto another nearby establishment.

The general manger of the bowls club, Phil Kelly, said the Origin players happily mingled with patrons.

“They were reasonably well behaved,” Kelly said. “Having a bit of fun. They were told by our duty manger to settle down. They took that on board and they left. They were just typical footballers.

“All our staff were happy to have them here. We have some staff that took photos with them and members took photos with them.

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“They were obliging to take photos with the members. They were two typical boofhead footballers that don’t know when to give up.”

Kelly said the pair spent a couple of hours drinking and playing the poker machines.

The two have a long history of poor off-field behaviour.

“They didn’t cause us any dramas,” Kelly said. “They did what was asked of them when they were asked to quieten down.

“When the duty manager asked to put them on the courtesy bus, they went somewhere else.

“Every time they had a few wins they got a little loud. My reports from my duty manager was there was no big deal.

“We don’t tolerate nonsense. If they played up too much they would’ve been turfed out and we would’ve called the police.”