Dugan breezes over Origin error
NSW centre Josh Dugan has conceded a boozy session in Lennox Head five days before State of Origin III was an “error is judgment”.
However, he has claimed he “didn’t go overboard or misbehave” despite drinking with Blues teammate Blake Ferguson for six hours.
“Seems we’ve been made the scapegoats,” he said.
He has also said he was considering legal action against Ray Hadley after the 2GB commentator alleged Dugan and Ferguson had been too hungover to complete their media commitments on the Tuesday at the start of the Origin II camp.
Dugan and Ferguson were drinking at Lennox Point Hotel on the Friday – a day off – before Game Three.
“Mate, what I’ve said is the truth. Went for lunch and a few beers. Never missed any media commitments and we were home at a respectable hour along with turning up respectable to training,” he said. “Probably an error in judgment but we didn’t go overboard or misbehave ... as the pub managers have already said. Seems we’ve been made the scapegoats.”
Dugan explained why he and Ferguson travelled 80km from Kingscliff to Lennox Head.
“We have two good mates who live there,” he said. “Didn’t sneak off at all. Got there at 2-2.30 and left after the joker draw at 7.30-8.”
Hadley claimed on air yesterday Dugan and Ferguson were also out drinking together after a team dinner in Sydney before Game Two.
“I’m currently exploring avenues to get a retraction of comments from Ray Hadley as none of what he has said is true. If he doesn’t I’m exploring defamation,” Dugan said.