NORTH Queensland will head into tonight's clash against Penrith under immense scrutiny after news of a heated argument between coach Neil Henry and captain Johnathan Thurston emerged yesterday.
Henry, who was Maroons assistant coach, took exception to Thurston's preparation for the third Origin game at Suncorp Stadium.
Reports of some Queensland players mixing Red Bull and sleeping pill Stilnox two nights prior to the clash are believed to be connected to Henry's blast, which was delivered when the pair arrived back at Cowboys HQ in Townsville the following day.
Henry took Thurston to task for partying too heavily in the lead-up to the game.
Having completed a draining representative schedule which saw him return to his best form, Thurston felt he deserved to "have a life" during Origin camp. He told Henry as much and the pair traded heated words for some time.
It's believed they made up 24 hours later - just two days before going down against Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval.
The blow-up appeared set to remain secret until news of some Queensland players mixing the stimulant drink and insomnia drug to achieve a cocaine-like high emerged yesterday.
It's understood about six Maroons took the cocktail on the Monday night before Origin III, when they broke camp to venture into Surfers Paradise. The QRL is looking into the reports, but is believed to be unhappy that team management allowed the players so many liberties ahead of the final game.
But Queensland prop David Shillington had a simple response to the Stilnox cocktail claims last night, saying: "If that was happening, mate, I wasn't invited."
With the QRL promising to come down hard on anyone found guilty of using the homemade party drug prior to Origin III, Shillington spoke out denying any knowledge of the practice.
"I've never taken Stilnox in my life and I certainly didn't during Origin camp," Shillington said. "So if there were boys doing something, who knows? If that was happening, mate, I certainly wasn't invited. But I can understand why Queensland fans would be filthy to hear something like that.
"I can also see why the boys would be upset when stuff like that comes out without any facts.
"Yeah, we've all been tarred with the same brush. But right now it's all just a bit of speculation. It's gossip, rumour . . . what can you say about it?
"I learned a long time ago that you can't get offended by rumours and similar stuff that other people say. And as of right now I haven't been named anyway so I don't have to defend myself. I don't care."
Darren Lockyer also denied any knowledge of the practice.
When asked if he was aware of the party drug in camp, Lockyer said: "No. Our preparation was hampered by injury and sickness. NSW had to deal with the same thing."
He said he was happy with the commitment for the third game, adding he didn't think the allegations tainted the entire side or detracted from their record-making efforts.
Pushed on whether he had ever heard of the potentially fatal combination, the Brisbane Broncos No. 6 added: "I've seen sleeping tablets being used occasionally when players are struggling to get a good night's sleep, just like anybody else."
Queensland great Gorden Tallis slammed the claims in his weekly column in The Courier-Mail, describing them as "rumours being passed off as fact".
"If I was still an Origin player I would be furious," he wrote.
"I would be furious that my good name had been smeared by allegations of drug use.
"It seems to matter little these days whether stories can be backed by hard evidence."
He said if the reports were true, "then have the guts to name them (the players) and shame them".
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/johnathan-thurston-neil-henry-in-blazing-row/story-e6frexnr-1225754514018