QUEENSLAND'S Emerging Maroons camp was thrown into chaos last weekend when Newcastle Knights centre Dane Gagai went missing after a night out in Brisbane.
Maroons officials desperately attempted to sweep the matter under the carpet, but we can reveal that the 23-year-old had a night on the tiles during the January 17-19 camp and didn't front the next day for training.
The camp was being run by his Newcastle coach Wayne Bennett at the Queensland Academy of Sport in Brisbane.
Gagai, who missed a morning training session but surfaced later in the day, is said to be chastened by the incident.
He lives with his brother in Newcastle and has thrived under Bennett's strict reign.
One source close to the Maroons blamed the incident on the arrogance that comes with winning eight straight series.
Gagai is seen as an option to replace powerhouse centre Justin Hodges, with the Broncos star struggling to be fit for the Origin opener after tearing his achilles tendon late last season.
NSW officials have taken a different approach to discipline in the lead up to the 2014 series.
Boom prop James Tamou was brushed from last weekend's two-day Origin camp at Homebush, partly because of his pre-season training in Townsville but also because he missed a crucial pre-Christmas meeting.
The Tamou incident shows that Blues coach Laurie Daley isn't afraid to make tough calls.
While logistics made it difficult for the Townsville-based prop to attend, a Blues official said: "We're setting our standards a lot higher."
Tamou missed Origin II last year because of a drink-driving charge but turned his season around.
Blues officials are expecting him to do the same thing in this instance.
