Jul 18th, 2017

Jul 18th, 2017

The general manager of the hotel which Blues stars Josh Dugan and Blake Ferguson spent on their day off, has shot down allegations that both players engaged in a drunken bender.

The former Canberra Raiders teammates reportedly spent their day off drinking at the pub in northern NSW, five days before the Blues suffered a heavy defeat in Brisbane.



The Blues were based in Kingscliff, about an hour's drive from the hotel, and were given the day to themselves ahead of the crucial clash.

And one simple phone call this morning suggested that the drinking session may have actually been relaxed catch-up with friends over a few beers and a meet-and-greet with locals.



General manager of the Lennox Point hotel, Nick Waldheim, declared the players "were no drama at any point".



He said the players had arranged to meet with friends and have lunch. The pair joined in a local raffle, took photographs with kids and had a few drinks.



"They were definitely not unruly. To say it was an alcohol-fueled binge is a complete exaggeration," Mr Waldheim said.

It's not the first time both players have courted controversy. In 2013 they were blasted by the media after posting a rooftop selfie drinking when they should have been training with the Canberra Raiders.

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."



New South Wales Rugby League boss Dave Trodden said he will investigate the circumstances around the pub visit.



Reports of Dugan’s and Ferguson’s drinking session has led to broadcaster Ray Hadley calling on the NSWRL to part ways with coach Laurie Daley after claiming there was a cover-up



"I'm afraid that David Trodden, and others down there including the board headed by George Peponis, need to make a very tough decision," Hadley said.



"Either Laurie Daley goes, or he gets tapped on the shoulder and gets told he's going.



"That's got to happen. It's inexcusable. They absolutely blitzed the Queenslanders Origin I, they led 16-6 at the break in Origin II and got lapped in the second half, and they got lapped in the third game.



"Now we find out about all the things that were happening. The one thing I know about sport, and it descends from a bloke like Jack Gibson who I was one of his disciples as a young broadcaster, it starts in the front office.



"You've got no discipline in the front office, you've got no discipline on the field and that's evidenced by what happened last Wednesday night."