Booze brothers: Blake Ferguson and Josh Dugan. Credit:David Moir "Let's be honest, when it comes to me and Fergo, any time there is something bad out there it comes out straight away not two months later. We did not trash any rooms. If we had we wouldn't have been allowed to play in game two or three. Fergo and I have been made the scapegoats. That's becoming pretty obvious. "We love representing NSW and respect the history of the jersey. Any suggestions that we have trashed a room are not true." It is unclear who tipped the board into the latest allegations that have been linked to NSW's opening night of camp on June 12, but it has been suggested Dugan and Ferguson had been smoking in a non-smoking room. It was hardly a major indiscretion, especially on a night the players were allowed to let their hair down. But of far greater importance to the board was a concern there was a potential cover-up from Blues staff trying to look after Dugan and Ferguson.

While Dugan insists there is no truth to what has been conveyed to the board, a range of issues that surfaced after the Blues' series defeat left NSWRL powerbrokers doubting the preparation and culture of the team. It also left Daley's future with NSW in a precarious position, and the board later decided it needed a change in direction. The board were well aware Dugan and Ferguson were shielded from the media on the morning after the alleged incident, and demanded answers as to why they were not in a position to do their media commitments with the rest of the NSW team at The Star. There is a strong belief Daley was guilty of placing too much trust in the players, and former Blues winger Josh Mansour indicated the coach might have paid the price for being too nice. "Maybe, a little bit," Mansour said. Loading