A contrite Shane Webcke says he wasn't pressured when he quit his part-time assistant coaching role with NRL club Brisbane yesterday in the wake of his controversial book.
''I certainly wasn't pushed,'' former Test star Webcke said.
Veteran of 263 games for the club as a player, Webcke said he felt compelled to leave the role he loved as it would be hypocritical to stay in light of what he had written.
In his book Hard Road, Webcke criticised the Brisbane club for not standing down stars Darius Boyd, Sam Thaiday and Karmichael Hunt when police were investigating sex assault allegations against them last September.
Having regrets about rehashing the issue and initially seeking to have publication of the book halted, Webcke was expected to front at training at Red Hill yesterday to discuss what he wrote with Thaiday and Hunt and to apologise for opening old wounds.
Instead, the club issued a statement from Webcke, confirming he was stepping down immediately.
''It is with sincere regret that I resign from the position of assistant coach with the Brisbane Broncos,'' Webcke wrote.
''It's a position that I have cherished, however in light of my actions surrounding the publishing of my book and some of the content contained within, I feel it is inappropriate for me to retain the role.
''I am truly sorry, and in acknowledging my distinct error in judgment, I feel the price I must pay is to relinquish the privilege that it is to work with the Broncos squad.
''Given my recent public comments about suffering the consequences of our actions, I feel it would hypocritical of me in the extreme not to heed my own advice.
''I'll continue working for the Broncos on the corporate side and remain committed and loyal to the club. My apologies to all Broncos supporters for dredging up events that should be consigned to history.''
Webcke unsuccessfully attempted to have the book, co-written by rugby league writer Ian Heads, pulped last month, just before its scheduled release.
It was going to cost him $150,000 to secure the copyrights to the book.
But after the criticism of the club, mostly contained in a chapter titled, Broncos Behaving Badly, received widespread publicity, he gave publishers Pan McMillan the green light to publish the book.
Webcke said in the book he felt the club should have stood down the three players under police investigation from Brisbane's semi-final against Melbourne.
He was also highly critical of the players' behaviour at training while the matter was being investigated.
No charges were laid.
Brisbane chief executive Bruno Cullen said the club was disappointed by Webcke's decision but understood his reasons.
''He felt he did the wrong thing by raising those things again and in his book he talks about being responsible for your actions,'' Cullen said.
''He felt he had to take a hit for what he said.''
Webcke's resignation comes a day after fellow former prop Andrew Gee announced he was leaving the Brisbane club to pursue interests outside of rugby league. AAP
Email a friend