New South Wales Blues stars Josh Dugan and Blake Ferguson are to be investigated by the NSWRL for a reported drinking session on the Friday before State of Origin III but Dugan says there is nothing to the claims.

“We were with two of our good mates having lunch and a few beers,” Dugan told News Corp.

“We were home at a respectable hour and there’s nothing more to it — it was six days out from the game.”

Current St George Illawarra star Joel Thompson came to their defence while Blues great Willie Mason believes the lunch was harmless which also doubled as a day off for NSW players:

Couple beers 6 days out from playing…My personal opinion not though it matters but it's deadset harmless.. Looking for people to blame

— . (@joel_thompson12) July 17, 2017

Doesn't do anything!!! If you're not ready to rip in even the night before.. you were never ready #excuses #noaccountability

— Willie Mason WMM 💯🇦🇺🇹🇴 (@mase21) July 17, 2017