Russell Crowe has apologised for dragging the game down with South Sydney's end-of-year fiasco and blamed himself for the impending sacking of coach Jason Taylor.
In a column in The Daily Telegraph, Crowe apologised to Souths fans and sponsors, and NRL chief executive David Gallop, conceding his club had tarnished the finals.
He also hinted strongly that his board would terminate Taylor's contract by the end of the week.
Crowe said he was personally culpable for not speaking to Taylor before the Forresters Hotel incident to remind him of his responsibilities to the club and the game.
He also said that, because of his own history of violent outbursts and subsequent humiliation, he felt for Taylor as he faced the axe.
"I blame myself for not acting on my instinct and calling Jason to remind him of the pressures surrounding the game and the importance of being a sober and sobering influence on the players,'' Crowe said.
"I blame myself that no matter the examples we have put in front of Jason and the many functions we have had as a group that no incident has arisen from, the lessons did not hit home with him and he has not adhered to the methods and standards set by example.''
Taylor's future at the Rabbitohs remains in serious doubt after Souths chief executive Shane Richardson and chairman Nick Pappas pored over Taylor's formal explanation, or "show cause'' document that he lodged late on Tuesday.
But in an ominous portent for Taylor, Crowe warned there was no room for sympathy.
"The question before the chairman and the CEO is did Jason Taylor break the Code of Conduct that he is contractually bound by and also did he breach his actual employment contract,'' he said.
"I'm not sure that there is much room for interpretation, sympathies aside, it is a yes or no question.''
Crowe said the final decision on whether Taylor keeps his job will rest with the South Sydney board.
Crowe holds two seats at the board, co-owner Peter Holmes a Court holds two, Souths members a further two, with the remaining vote lying with the Souths Juniors club.
