Police are investigating an alleged incident involving NSW winger Blake Ferguson in a Sydney nightspot on Sunday night, throwing his participation in State of Origin game two in doubt.
Police are probing a complaint understood to have been made by a woman at the 2230 Restaurant and Bar in Cronulla mall.
Ferguson had been at the bar with former Canberra teammate Josh Dugan, who was celebrating his recall to the NSW side a few hours earlier.
The start of the NSW team camp was disrupted on Monday morning, with a players’ media session delayed by two hours, as Ferguson and Dugan were summoned to coach Laurie Daley’s room.
Daley later emerged to speak to the media, while Ferguson and Dugan remained behind closed doors.
“We have been made aware of an allegation and have been in contact with the NRL’s integrity unit,” Daley said, reading from a prepared statement.
“We will continue to cooperate with the police investigation.
“Josh Dugan was with Blake at the time, but there has been no allegations made against him and we will update you as the matter continues.”
Ferguson is believed to have told officials he had no knowledge of the alleged incident.
The bar’s licensee, Scott Matteson, confirmed both Ferguson and Dugan had been at the venue.
“We got a request later in the night from police for some footage in relation to an alleged assault, which was provided to police,” Matteson told AAP, adding he was unaware what the allegation involved.
“I was there. I wasn’t in the vicinity of it but I was at the bar,” he said.
The Blues players were doing their best to get on with the business of getting ready for next week’s big game.
“We don’t know what’s going on. We don’t know if they’ve done something wrong or not,” said vice-captain Robbie Farah.
“We’ve just got to focus. We’ll deal with it as it happens.
“It’s not a concern for us at the moment because it’s new and it will get dealt with the best way possible.
“For us, it’s business as usual at the moment. We’re kind of in the dark as to what’s going on. It’s hard for us to comment.”
Despite the messages to the contrary, the controversy is the last thing the Blues need before the trip to Suncorp Stadium where they will attempt to notch a drought-breaking series victory on Wednesday week.
The NRL’s integrity unit is liaising with team officials but, should Ferguson be charged, then he would almost certainly be stood down.
If that happens, it could open the door for a recall for Newcastle winger Akuila Uate or a long-awaited debut for South Sydney veteran Nathan Merritt.
The 23-year-old Ferguson has a chequered past and was stood down by Canberra in March after drinking with Dugan on a rooftop when the pair should have been at a recovery session.
Dugan was subsequently sacked and now plays for St George Illawarra.
