Source: The Daily Telegraph
October 12, 2001
Crowe looks to sign a Rabbit as his co-star
By Ray Chesterton
Having conquered rampaging tigers in the Coliseum during the movie Gladiator, Oscar winner Russell Crowe has been less successful against a rabbit.
The already warm relationship between Crowe and rugby league team South Sydney is about to get hotter and even more sympathetic.
Crowe is prepared to become a financial supporter of the Rabbitohs' cause, as well as his already established emotional involvement with the club. He has offered to underwrite a contract for a Souths player next season to ensure the club is as strong as possible for its return to the premiership.
Halfback Craig Field, who has left the Tigers, was initially mentioned as the recipient of Crowe's generosity, however it now seems unlikely that he will be the chosen one.
Souths president George Piggins says he is aware of Crowe's offer.
"Russell is prepared to put his money where his mouth is," George said. "I have heard the story (about Field being supported by Russell) but that won't be the case. " At the moment we're looking at a player who might be on the market in a couple of weeks.
"Down the line somewhere Russell does seem to want to help us."
Crowe's international management team offered the obligatory "no comment" when pressed for details of the arrangement. This is Hollywood's way of saying the story is right but the person involved does not necessarily want to go public at this stage.
Crowe's further involvement with Souths follows his father's long association with the club.
Already Crowe has leant his considerable cachet to Souths' new status as a born-again club by attending games, once in company with Tom Cruise, and turning up at a "thank-you day" staged for supporters.
Cruise and Crowe sitting on the sideline wearing red and green Souths scarfs for the match against the Warriors in 1999 were a double act rugby league has never experienced before. Given Cruise's current matrimonial uncertainty, it is unlikely we will see him at a rugby league match for a while, but Crowe remains solid.
Piggins, who has seen much and experienced even more during his sporting lifetime, admits to being nonplussed by developments. "I've never known a film star of his stature to be associated with a rugby league club," he laughed. "It's unique."
Sadly, George is right. Apart from a fleeting relationship with then superstar Kevin Costner, who linked with the 1990 Kangaroos in France, rugby league and film stars have managed to keep themselves widely separated. Unlike America, where theatrical stars are often linked with sporting teams (Jack Nicholson and the LA Lakers come to mind), Australia has no such tradition. There is an occasional poll to get celebrity tips in Grand Final week and something similar happens at Melbourne Cup time. The wonderful Tom Keneally is a devout Manly supporter but showbiz stays clear of the game. There are just no established theatrical stars of real stature to lend rugby league a little glitz and glamour. The closest the rugby league gets to red carpets and actors is watching players felled in tackles appealing for a penalty and theatrical referees. Getting Crowe the Gladiator on side could start a trend.
As rugby league searches for a blossoming and more sophisticated identity, luring a few film stars to support the games would be a winner. It could also mean Souths will need a Crowe-bar to keep overly enthusiastic supporters in line next year if the Gladiator turns up at a match.
