Former NSW coach Ricky Stuart has slammed Josh Dugan and Blake Ferguson, saying they should have been banned from State of Origin four years ago.
The former Canberra teammates, who were both sacked by the Raiders before Stuart took over at the club, are being investigated after claims they spent eight hours at the Lennox Point Hotel on a day off.
Their visit to the pub was five days before one of the most anticipated battles between NSW and Queensland in Origin history.
“It’s very sad. I’m very embarrassed by it,” Stuart told Fox Sports’ On The Couch With Sterlo.
“I feel very sorry for (coach) Laurie (Daley) and I feel very sorry for the players that have actually busted themselves over the course of the last series to try and do the right things to try and create a culture.
“Yet again, to be let down by two people who continually let down individuals around them and their teammates.”
Stuart pointed to an incident before Origin II in 2013 which he believes should have marked the end of their Origin careers.
“Day one of the (second) camp they both turned up to camp drunk,” Stuart said.
“They should have been eliminated from State of Origin there and then and this wouldn’t have happened.”
Earlier in 2013, Dugan was sacked by Canberra after posting pictures of a rooftop drinking session with Ferguson to social media.
Ferguson’s Raiders contract was torn up later in that year after a string of incidents including an indecent assault for which he was later found guilty.
Corey Parker, who played 19 Origins for Queensland, said the duo’s latest incident showed deeper problems with the Blues’ culture.
“In my build-up or make-up I wouldn’t be having a beer on a Friday (before Origin),” Parker said.
“Until New South Wales have a united team that wants to put the team first, they’re always going to struggle.”
Mickyo
Guest
Oh FFS, they had a couple of beers and a feed, if they had won it would have been great bonding. Get a life,
Nat
Roar Guru
Because you have Paul Kent citing an unnamed source for the story. Daley hasn't commented at all on anything yet nor was he or any of the staff there. Who would you like to come out and discredit the story from the Blues? The only witness to come forward is the publican, as above. All and sundry can and have offered their opinion on the fact they were "at the pub" not their behaviour at said pub. Dozens of people saw them and not one has said they were in the wrong. Kent loves a distracting headline - that's all.
Rob
Guest
Ken Nagas is the Inglis equizalent. Kasino would be Tamou equizalent but NSW changed the rules again. Paybacks a ......
Rob
Guest
Is James Roberts any different?
Rob
Guest
TB," it is reflective of culture within the team". you're spot on. The cuture is driven by the players and the respect they show towards their team mates, supporters and the coach. It starts in the selection room. Maybe this is why Walters gave a ban to the emerging players and Ben Barba and Dave Taylor has been over looked whilst players like Glasby and O'niel are selected. Selecting Gallen as captain after Peptides and Bird after glassing his girl friend was indicative of a culture problem long ago in my opinion. Daley is a terrific bloke and his choice of Cordner as Captain was a step in the right direction. J. Turbo, J.Jackson are qualtiy blokes and even Josh Renolds, Croker, Ryan James appear to me to be quality characters, but they get ignored.
Bugo
Guest
G'day Jacko. The point is alcohol is worse for the human body than we may realise. One can not be at peak and also drink alcohol. 30 grand is a lot of money, surely it must be earnt. The decision all adults make is to consume a poison for a brief alternate feeling but if you believe it is of no consequence, regardless of the time frame, then you're wrong. Origin is war on a field, we appreciate the efforts of the physically gifted men. But maybe payment is to high for losing.
RM
Guest
I think that's the thing though - when NSW were on top throughout the 90's and early 2000's with so many great players, Queensland was still able to find a way to win like in 91, 95, 98, 2001 as well as doing enough to get drawn series and thus retaining the trophy in 2002 and 99. NSW were still the dominant team in this era of Origin but Qld were able to at least stay in touch on the results tally, and give their fans enough victories to hold onto some hope and pride. After 11 series losses out of 12, people are questioning why NSW have been unable to do the same over this period. Where is a NSW performance like 91, 95 or 2001 where a team of no-names and journeymen caused a mighty upset? In trying to answer this question, you have to look beyond the talent on show and start asking about culture and other intangibles. Maybe it is all just navel-gazing, maybe it's a question without an answer, but I reckon it's worth thinking about at least.
Mike Dugg
Guest
Not asking the right question there wild eagle. The question should be why did Inglis with QLD looking at a fourth straight aeries loss in 2006 choose to play for them when he could've chosen to be on a winning blues team? That's the question none of the blues supporters ever think of when they bring up Inglis being a maroon. Can you tell me why he made that choice?
Hopeless Knight
Guest
Wild Eagle NSW would not of selected Inglis back then. Jamie Lyons, Gasnier and Cooper were ahead of him. And the selectors would of made an excuse why he couldn't play wing. He chose to play for QLD for a reason.
Jock Cornet
Guest
Ferguson always comes off his wing. 3 tries by his opposite , should be never to play origin again.
Peter
Guest
Wild Eagle, I assume you actually know what the eligibility criteria are. If so, in what way does Inglis NOT meet the criteria for selection for Queensland? In less than 500 words, compare and contrast with Toowoomba-ite Peter Sterling's selection for NSW. Perhaps you should just start a campaign to change the selection criteria, which as you know the NSWRL agreed to.
The Barry
Roar Guru
By the rationale of the alcohol being out of their systems by game day, it would be fine to have twenty schooners on the Monday because by 8pm on Wednesday the grog would be out of their system. Of course it has an impact. If (and I do mean if, I don't take the media reports on this for granted) the players had an eight hour session then it definitely would have impacted their preparation in terms of diet, quality of sleep, energy levels the next day, concentration, performance at training the next day. Maybe it made a 1% difference. Maybe that's the difference between winning and losing. Maybe not. If you read that an Olympic 100m sprinter, a 1500m swimmer, a marathon runner was hitting the cans hard five days before their biggest event you'd think it was absurd. This is no different. If it's true. But the NSWRL should look into it. If it is true it's not acceptable.
Greg
Guest
Nope, he resigned from the Sharks and Eels
Wild Eagle
Guest
Any suggestions for NSW half ,5/8 and hooker over the last decade as well as fullback and centres? Do you really think if we swapped selectors over the last decade that the results would be much different? Being able to select players like Inglis who is from Bowraville in NSW would come in handy as well.
Wild Eagle
Guest
The correct spelling for your is you're and I don't know who three hats is but if he sounds anything like me he must be some sort of champion. Beer is very average , I'll have Moscato thanks.
Suechi
Guest
NSW just don't get it. Origin is just not as important to them as it is to QLD. Call it passion, culture, the vibe - whatever. NSW is behind on selection and leadership - not by a little, by a country mile.
Jacko
Guest
Bugo the alcohol would have been out of their system 4 days and 16hrs before the game...players dont do 5 day build-ups like the fans and press do.
Jacko
Guest
Greg thats because at least 2 teams have sacked him
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Haha what happened to 3 Hats? To be fair to WE, Bonza did mention Api in his post. That he'd be a guy that would make QLD nervous.
Craig
Guest
Then why don't they come out and slam the rubbish story? They haven't at all. They've sheltered the players if anything. Which completely suggests there's more to it.