Booze brothers’ pub visit forces NSW investigation

Josh Dugan and Blake Ferguson were drinking at a pub only days before NSW’s disastrous Origin III loss.

NSW Blues State of Origin players Blake Ferguson and Josh Dugan.

The NSW Rugby League is set to investigate claims that two of their players — Josh Dugan and Blake Ferguson — were drinking at a pub only days before the side’s disastrous performance in the third State of Origin game.

Reports last night emerged of witnesses claiming Dugan and Ferguson spent the afternoon at a pub in Lennox Head on the NSW north coast — 80km from their base at Kingscliff — in what shapes as another blow to coach Laurie Daley’s bid to hold on to his job.

The Blues were soundly beaten in the Origin decider and Daley’s future at the helm of the side has come under scrutiny as a result.

Ferguson and Dugan didn’t have their best games in Origin III but they weren’t alone.

Their futures with the Blues are now also on the line as the NSWRL prepares to investigate the allegations against the pair as part of their review into NSW’s misfiring Origin series.

“We have been made aware of reports of the players being at a hotel on their day off,” NSWRL chief executive David Trodden said. “We were previously unaware but it is one of the matters that will be looked at in our review of the 2017 series.”

However, 2GB broadcaster Ray Hadley this morning alleged the Blues camp did not put the pair up before the media the following day, and instead ‘hid’ them.

“The reports I get out of Kingscliffe [training base] ... the team management, instead of sanctioning the two players, actually hid them from view,” Mr Hadley alleged.

However, a number of players were not put up before the media that day, as is standard practise during an Origin camp.

Players had day off

NSW players were given the day off on the Friday prior to the game. Some played golf while others headed to Byron Bay. Only days later the Blues put up a lacklustre showing as they were beaten 22-6 at Suncorp Stadium, that loss resulting in a series defeat.

Dugan confirmed to News Corp Australia that he was at the hotel visiting friends but said there was no misbehaviour.

“We were with two of our good mates having lunch and a few beers,” Dugan said. “We were home at a respectable hour and there’s nothing more to it — it was six days (sic) out from the game.”

Dugan and Ferguson have form. While teammates at the Raiders in 2013, the pair posted a picture of themselves drinking on a rooftop instead of attending a club recovery session.

Daley is yet to announce whether he will put his hand up to coach NSW again, but NSWRL chairman George Peponis has already indicated he will support the coach’s retention.

Should Daley decide to stand down, a series of contenders have been mentioned. While NSW icon Andrew Johns has ruled himself out, the likes of Brad Fittler, Danny Buderus, Dean Pay and Craig Fitzgibbon are likely to come under consideration.

Whoever is in charge next year may face a decision on whether to consider Dugan and Ferguson, although they were likely to come under pressure regardless given the push to introduce fresh blood.

Meanwhile, NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg will take a more prominent role in negotiations with the players’ union from this week as he attempts to fast-track talks over a new pay deal.

Greenberg has taken a back seat in the negotiations with the Rugby League Players Association, leaving chief operating officer Nick Weeks to oversee the talks, but has now decided the time is right to take a more hands-on approach as both parties look to end a process that has been ongoing since late last year.

Negotiations have slowed over several key issues, the most notable the players’ desire for a guaranteed share of revenue.

Greenberg said the NRL remained concerned about the concept of a revenue share, but acknowledged the time had come to take a more active role in proceedings. It is understood the RLPA has been pressing for more meetings but were last night waiting to back from the NRL.

However, the likelihood is that meetings will resume this week as the NRL looks to reach agreement over the game’s key issue, chief among them the salary cap.

“I will become involved,” he said. “It was always my intention to become involved at the appropriate time. I spent some time last week with representatives from the RLPA and I am very confident that dialogue is strong.”

Asked about NSW and Queensland players donning caps with the RLPA logo a fortnight ago in the lead-up to the final State of Origin game, Greenberg said: “My personal opinion of that is that wasn’t a good look for players or the game.”