Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder spoke to Guildford yesterday and said the 22-year-old World Cup squad member was "devastated" and at rock bottom following his actions at Rarotongan bar Trader Jacks on Friday night (NZT).
"He's really hurting and ashamed," Blackadder said. "He can't remember anything but he acknowledges that it happened.
"Just talking to him; he has hit rock bottom.
"I think for the very first time Zac has acknowledged that he's got an issue, that he can't control his drinking, and it's obviously causing a lot of issues, not only for himself but also his family.
"Maybe some good can really come out of the fact that he acknowledges he really needs help. It's a time when we need to support him rather than judge him."
Guildford reportedly stormed into Trader Jack's at 10pm naked and bleeding from cuts he received earlier in the day.
He allegedly punched two men before he climbed on to the stage and then ran into the bar's kitchen, where staff covered him with an apron.
He left with a group of women he had been partying with earlier and police arrived soon after.
Yesterday, Guildford's grandparents, Frank and June Burt, said from their Featherston home that Guildford's mother - their daughter Deb - had phoned to forewarn them about the incident, the latest in a string of alcohol-related incidents which have seen the winger come before the New Zealand Rugby Union three times in the past 18 months.
Mr Burt said he was not sure what prompted the latest incident but had been told his grandson had been hospitalised for coral poisoning after cutting himself while swimming.
A doctor at Rarotonga Hospital said he could not confirm if Guildford had been treated there but said such injuries often required a week on antibiotics - which should not be taken with alcohol.
Mrs Burt said that regardless of what Guildford had got up to, she and her husband "love him to bits".
"We have had a few drinks with Zac and he has been to many family gatherings and parties and I can honestly say I have never seen him drunk."
She said her daughter had told her that in the aftermath of the bar attacks Guildford had been taken to hospital but was now out and back at his hotel.
"He is not a very happy chap at all."
Mrs Burt said it was likely Guildford had never got over the sudden death of his father Robert about three years ago.
Robert Guildford died while watching his son play for the NZ Under-20 team as they won the final of the world championships against England in Tokyo in 2009.
"He has had a hell of a three years and, really, he has been the only one who has never grieved."
Mr Burt believed his grandson had also got "too much fame and it's too much to handle".
He didn't understand his grandson's latest actions. "It now looks like he shot him self in the foot."
However, he added he still loved his grandson very much. "He's such a lovely, lovely man."
Meanwhile, there were varying rumours circulating in Rarotonga as to how Guildford received his injuries, including reports he was riding a scooter at speed and fell off it and that he jumped out of a moving car and leapt into a lagoon.
One tourist who arrived home from Rarotonga yesterday said he had been told by authorities that police had been trying to take Guildford to hospital for his injuries earlier in the day but he'd gotten away from them.
A Cook Islands police spokesman would not comment, but said an inspector who was handling the case would release details on the incident today.
Guildford's previously documented issues with alcohol include a heavy night of drinking following the All Blacks' loss to Australia in a Tri- Nations test in Brisbane in August. In September, he admitted to issues with alcohol after incidents in Brisbane and Auckland and promised he would get it under control.
Blackadder said that a misconduct charge clearly had not worked and Guildford needed "clinical" help. He said Guildford was still grieving for his father.
"There's a real issue here that he's obviously suppressed," said Blackadder. "There's a lot of anger and emotion behind it and it takes an expert to help him. It's really hard to help someone if they don't think they've got a problem."
Guildford is believed to be in Rarotonga for the wedding of rugby friend Jarred McCarthy and fiancee Sam Barlow, although the Cook Islands News reported he may actually be there for the secret wedding for fellow All Black Israel Dagg and his partner.
Others reportedly in the Cook Islands include Rugby World Cup boss Martin Snedden and All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith.
Cook Islands News managing editor John Woods said the paper planned to call Guildford to account today, asking for him to come forward and apologise for his actions.
- Additional reporting by APNZ
