Brisbane Broncos legend Steve Renouf has been charged with high-range drink driving after allegedly blowing nearly four times over the legal alcohol limit.
“I have let down a lot of people and accept that what I did was wrong,” Renouf wrote in a statement apologising to his family, supporters, and the rugby league community.
Police stopped the 55-year-old driving alone on Windsor Road in Red Hill, not far from the Broncos headquarters, late on Tuesday night, where he allegedly returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.197.
His licence was immediately suspended, and he will face Brisbane Magistrates Court later this month.
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Known as “The Pearl,” Renouf played 183 games for the Broncos, winning four premierships, and starred for both Queensland and Australia.
In a spectacular career punctuated by speed and stunning try-scoring ability, Renouf is remembered as one of the best centres the game has seen.
The Broncos centre was also something of a trailblazer for Indigenous stars who have come through the ranks since, and he is widely respected in the Indigenous rugby league community.
Off the field, he has been a respected, passionate Indigenous health ambassador and type-1 diabetes advocate.
The NRL Hall of Famer now awaits court proceedings to learn the consequences of the charge.