According to the alleged texts, Pearce was "whaled" and had been "humping Bella" while another person at the party named Jack filmed the events. It was suggested that an approach would be made to the Daily Mail to buy the footage and within a day digital media exchange company Diimex was offering the video to media outlets. The alleged exchange reads as follows: A contrite Mitchell Pearce addresses the media about the leaked video on January 29. Credit:Kate Geraghty The alleged text message exchange reads as follows: - Jack has to send you a video of Mitchell Pearce humping Bella

Thinking about selling it to the daily mail to end his career - I had to google Mitchell Pearce! Haha. Wait, humping the dog?

- yep so f---ed and pissed on her lounge

he was whaled - Sounds like an absolute pig

Is Cyn friends with him? - No none of us were - they were with us at the oak and they were pretty normal - giving out liney lineys and then they jumped a cab with me back to hers and went f---ing ape shit! Jack just sat there filming it all The players had been on a club-sanctioned harbour cruise on Australia Day before going to the Royal Oak in Double Bay, where they were given Cabcharge cards from Roosters officials and told to go home. But Pearce and new recruits Dale Copley and Jayden Nikorima continued partying. An NRL spokesman said: "The integrity unit is in possession of the alleged text messages but makes no further comment on its investigation."

The alleged text messages surfaced on social media after Pearce had read a 35-second statement to media in a Surry Hills park at 1pm. Accompanied by his mother Terri, sister Tatum and friend Liam Roach, the son of Balmain great Steve Roach, Pearce looked a shattered man after his very public humiliation. "I'm embarrassed and take full responsibility for my actions," Pearce said. "I acknowledge that I have a problem with alcohol and it's something I need to address. It's not an excuse but finally a realisation that I finally need help. "Together with the club I'm working on a solution for me to address the issues which will come out in the next couple of days. I just want to thank everyone for turning up and I apologise again." The Roosters confirmed on Friday night that Pearce would undergo counselling or rehabilitation after his second alcohol-related incident in two years, following his arrest outside a Kings Cross nightclub on the eve of the 2014 season that cost him his place in the Blues team that finally ended Queensland's eight-year State of Origin domination.

It is understood that Pearce had felt the need to make a public apology because he is the Roosters captain, the incident occurred three weeks before the club's first game of the season against St Helens in the World Club Series and he is returning from injury. No decision has been made on what penalty the Roosters and NRL will impose but Pearce is expected to be stripped of the captaincy, to be fined $50,000 and to be suspended for six matches or more. However, the length of the suspension may be largely irrelevant as Pearce will reportedly spend six weeks in an overseas rehabilitation clinic while he seeks help for the alcohol problem which he has now admitted. There is speculation that the Roosters sleeve sponsor QBE is reviewing its deal with the Roosters, which runs until 2018, in the wake of the Pearce incident. However, a QBE spokesperson said the company would continue to support the Roosters until the investigation was concluded.

"We're pleased the matter has been referred to the NRL's integrity unit and is the subject of a Roosters investigation, and we won't be commenting further while this is underway," the spokesperson said. "The Roosters have our full support."