- Brisbane Broncos great fronted court on Wednesday
- Was arrested and handcuffed by police on July 1
NRL great Steve Renouf told police ‘you’ve got me, I’m drunk’ after being caught driving almost four times over the blood alcohol limit, a court has heard.
The Brisbane Broncos legend has apologised over the incident after being fined and having his licence disqualified on Wednesday, earlier tabling a character reference from his former coach Wayne Bennett.
The 55-year-old returned a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.197 after being pulled over for a late-night roadside breath test in the Brisbane suburb of Red Hill on July 1, the court heard.
Renouf was the vehicle’s sole occupant, turning off the car and exiting before being asked by police to sit back down, police prosecutor Kiara D’Odorico said.
The prosecutor said Renouf then told officers: ‘You’ve got me, I’m drunk.’
The former Queensland flyer was unsteady on his feet, slurring his words and dropped several items on the ground while trying to get his licence, Ms D’Odorico said.
Broncos great Steve Renouf is pictured outside Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday after learning his punishment for drink-driving on July 1
The 55-year-old premiership winner (pictured) was so affected by alcohol that he could not remember the incident afterwards, the court heard
Renouf (pictured outside court) suffered a health episode after being arrested and handcuffed
Renouf said ‘no, no, no’ and attempted to walk away after being told he would be detained and subject to further testing.
He was handcuffed and taken to a watchhouse for further tests, Brisbane Magistrates Court heard.
Defence counsel Angelo Vernados said Renouf had no recollection of the incident after being at a nearby Paddington venue with friends.
‘He left the establishment and clearly made the foolish decision of getting into the car,’ Mr Vernados told the court.
The court heard Renouf suffered a hypoglycaemic episode at the watchhouse as a result of low blood-sugar.
Police gave him jelly beans and made a call to Renouf’s partner, who provided instructions on how to manage him.
Mr Vernados said Renouf had deep remorse, embarrassment and serious reflections about his actions, tabling the character reference from legendary NRL coach Bennett.
‘Under no circumstances is this gentlemen seeking special consideration from the court today,’ he told the court.
Renouf (pictured playing for Brisbane in 1996) made a ‘foolish decision’ to get into his car on the night in question, the court heard
‘He’s a man of great integrity and been open and honest about the circumstances.’
Renouf said he was extremely remorseful for his actions.
‘I am a role model. I have been a role model in the community for a long time,’ he told reporters outside court.
‘It deeply hurts me and I apologise if I’ve upset anyone that’s looked up to me.’
Magistrate Judith Daley weighed up the impact a conviction could have on Renouf’s travel internationally for work and said to his credit, he had no similar traffic offences.
Renouf was fined $1200 and disqualified from driving for 11 months after pleading guilty to driving under the influence of liquor.
No conviction was recorded.
Renouf played 183 games and scored 142 tries for NRL club Brisbane, claiming four premierships including the Broncos’ maiden title in 1992.
His stellar career also featured Queensland State of Origin and Test honours along with Indigenous Team of the Century selection in 2008.
