South Sydney Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire has ensured any feud between club owner Russell Crowe and five-eighth Luke Keary is now "dead and buried".
Reports emerged on Tuesday that Keary was subject to a berating from Crowe at the Academy Award winner's Coffs Harbour property during a team bonding session before Christmas – with Keary promptly flying back to Sydney in the aftermath.
Crowe has since publically apologised to Keary on social media, leading Maguire to hose down any further conflict at the club.
Luke Keary situation entirely my fault. A bit of banter that went too far. I've apologised. He is a natural leader and great for our club.
— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) January 19, 2016
"We understand where it's all at. At the end of the day it's all dead and buried now," Maguire said during the Charity Shield launch on Wednesday.
"I think Luke was quite smart about it – he didn't have to go through a nine hour bus ride to get home because he jumped on a plane, and good on him for that.
"There has been a lot of speculation around it though, and I understand that because there's a lot of profile involved.
"Seeing the two of them grow from what they have been through is something we can take forward now. As a group and a team, it's something we're definitely going to use."
While the 23-year-old Keary will miss the first round of the competition proper due to suspension Maguire said his role in the team will not be impacted as a result of the Crowe conflict.
"We want to excel, and [Keary's] one player who plays a big part of what we're about up until this point, and he'll play a big part of it moving forward," Maguire said.
"Luke Keary is keen on playing at his best this season, and he's vital with what we're doing. Just the way he has developed his game, I think Luke's a born leader.
"Unfortunately throughout our last season we had a few injuries and our combinations weren't quite there but now we have had more time to forge relationships over the pre-season."
Meanwhile Maguire hailed the return of Sam Burgess to pre-season training in Redfern as a success so far.
The premiership-winning coach is of the belief Burgess's year away has made him "hungrier than ever" and failed to sense Burgess suffering any sort of hangover from his time in rugby union.
"Everyone knows what Sammy's like, he's a real positive man and a big presence. He's been through a lot himself in what he's endured, but what he's gained is a lot of experience in who he is as a person," Maguire said.
"What he's learnt since he's been away has meant he's come back a better person. He's bouncing around and he's training really well too.
"The only effect [his hiatus] has had is probably that he is looking hungrier now than he ever has been."
