MAROONS coach Mal Meninga claims he was "drinking responsibly" when asked to leave a Brisbane bar yesterday during birthday celebrations for Billy Slater and Cameron Smith.

Breaking his silence on the incident, Meninga exclusively told The Courier-Mail he left with Maroons assistant coach Allan Langer and star pivot Johnathan Thurston after complying with a request from hotel management.

NRL chief executive Dave Smith will today seek a report of the incident from the Queensland Rugby League.

DUGAN GOT OFF LIGHTLY: MENINGA

The incident occurred around 1.10am yesterday at the Down Under Bar and Grill in Brisbane's CBD.

Security intervened and ordered Meninga to leave the establishment for entering an area that was off limits to patrons.

"I was not drunk, I left without incident," he said.

"I had one drink at the pub. I made the mistake of going behind the bar to ask for a beer and that was it," he said.

We are giving away two tickets for Origin II each day until game day. To enter click here.

Thurston and Langer approached security, asking if Meninga could remain, but their pleas fell on deaf ears and the three men departed the pub. Meninga was given a bottle of water on his way out.

Maroons players and staff arrived at the Regatta Hotel around 9.30pm on Tuesday to celebrate the 30th birthdays of Slater and Smith.

The Courier-Mail understands Meninga had consumed two beers at the Regatta and one beer at the Down Under Bar and Grill when he stepped behind a service area asking to be served a drink.

The incident comes 24 hours after Meninga said he was "fed up" with the litany of off-field scandals tarnishing the code's image, headlined by NSW winger Blake Ferguson's indecent assault charge.

Meninga last night insisted he was not drunk and defended his actions after being asked to leave by hotel security.

"I was drinking responsibly. I acted responsibly and I left," he said.

"I am fed-up with the other incidents going on in the game but (those) are criminal charges against players.

"I was out celebrating a couple of the boys' 30th birthday."

A small contingent then kicked on at the Down Under Bar, but no member of the Maroons was reported to have misbehaved.

Down Under Bar and Grill management were unavailable for comment last night.

"There was no arguments, or pushing or shoving," Meninga said.

"I tried to get their attention because no one was serving where I was standing.

"I said, 'Can I get a beer please?', then I moved into the (service area) and they said sorry, you can't be in here.

"The security said you better leave. JT (Thurston) and Alfie (Langer) spoke to management, but I said, 'Don't worry Johnno, I'm happy to go'.

"I'm just disappointed because I don't feel I did anything wrong."