Thanks to Maria.....

The Sunday Telegraph
SUN 21 AUG 2005, Page 072
Rabbitohs have real need to Crowe - By PAUL KENT

CALL me a sadist, but rugby league needs more fans like Russell Crowe.

You know the type, fans that not only love the club but sing the team song as well. Like Rusty does whenever the Rabbitohs run out for a home game. Over the loudspeakers.

Most of us can remember back to the time when the Rabbitohs would run on to the park to their traditional hymn, "Glory, Glory To South Sydney'', and more than a few have observed since then that now that the club has signed Real Insurance as their major sponsor, the Rabbitohs now run out to the former Russell Morris hit ``The Real Thing''.

A bold move and it seems we have Crowe to thank for convincing management to make the switch. And we can all thank our lucky stars by appreciating that with no actual track to play, Rusty then handed over a tape of his own recording of the song.

See, these are the sorts of fans rugby league needs more of, fans not only keen to get in the trenches with their team, but who actually insist on it.

Like when the Rabbitohs were behind 24-0 at half-time against Penrith in round six earlier this year, they needed something to get back into the game. Thankfully, my man Rusty recognised that.

So there was no reason for coach Shaun McRae and chief executive Shane Richardson to be surprised when they walked into the dressing room for the half-time break and saw Crowe already there, pacing determinedly.

"What are you doing here?'' asked Richardson.

Crowe said he wanted to address the players.

Hey, somebody had to do something. And it's not as if he hadn't already done it before.

When the Rabbitohs were first brought back into the competition Crowe was there for their first official game, the Charity Shield against St George Illawarra, walking from player to player and whispering unknown pearls in their ears while coach Craig Coleman addressed the team from the middle.

Obviously whatever he said was gold, as after a two-year absence, the Rabbitohs drew 20-20 against one of the competition heavyweights.

Certainly it was encouraging enough for Crowe to make it back for the opening game, when he and the late Albert Clift rang the bell to to signify South Sydney's official return to the NRL.

It was the Rabbitohs' first game back and, even today, players still wistfully remember the performance incentive Crowe offered moments before the game: ``Make the top eight,'' he told them, ``and I'll take you all to the Playboy Mansion at the end of the year.''

How can you not be motivated by an opportunity to meet Miss December? Unfortunately for the Rabbitohs, they went down 40-6.

Maybe it wasn't so much Miss December that sidetracked them, but rather Crowe chanting, ``We're going to the Mansion, we're going to the Mansion'' as the players ran down the tunnel. How many other fans are prepared to go the distance like that?

It was Crowe, remember, who took the Rabbitohs out for dinner one night and then invited them back to his house where he engaged them in a game of knee footy in his lounge room. Bryan Fletcher put him through a wall.

Following last Saturday's upset win over Canberra, McRae acknowledged the great contribution of Crowe saying:

"Russell came into the change rooms and I suppose his presence was felt by everybody.''

None more than himself, although not nearly as much, apparently, as it was felt the night before. There was no motivational speech for the players from Crowe. Instead, he had brought along a video he thought they could watch together to get in the proper mood.

"It was a video on his training regime for Cinderella Man,'' the player said.

See, how many other overweight actors would be prepared to show a video of themselves training as a movie character -- one where they had to lose 20kg to make the part -- in a bid to inspire a room full of professional athletes?

Only my man Rusty, that's how many. The superfan.

Asked what the team thought about the video, the player paused.

"Off the record?'' he asked.

The Sunday Telegraph
SUN 21 AUG 2005, Page 049
It's all about heart - The letter Russell Crowe gave to each Souths player
By ADAM HAWSE


RABBITOHS 17
ROOSTERS 16

ACTOR Russell Crowe released an open letter denouncing the spending habits of the Sydney Roosters in an astonishing aftermath to last night's win by his beloved South Sydney.

The letter, signed by Crowe and under his personal letterhead, was in response to a wealthy Roosters punter who challenged him to a $250,000 bet on the result in yesterday's The Daily Telegraph.

Crowe distributed a pile of the photocopied letters in a jubilant Rabbitohs dressing room.
He wrote: ``When will these Roosters blokes learn that it's not about money? It's about heart and spirit. For all the Roosters have spent in the last five years they've only bought one premiership.
"Souths are the poorest club in the League, our boys train on a busted ass oval with cockroaches in the dressing room, there's no glamour playing for Souths.

"Rabbitohs fans know what the players go through on our behalf and we love them for it''.
Crowe had taunted the Roosters after Souths beat Canberra last weekend, saying he wished they won the wooden spoon. He sought out Roosters captain Luke Ricketson straight after the game.
``After 13 consecutive losses this couldn't be any better,'' Crowe said. ``I got to Luke Ricketson and looked him in the eye and said ``Lukey, how'd you enjoy that game?''

The victory was the first for Souths against their arch-rivals since 1994, ending a horrendous run of 13 straight defeats.

Coach Shaun McRae gave trainer David Boyle a giant bearhug on the sideline as the fulltime siren sounded as celebrations rivalled that of a grand final win.

Souths drew on the club's proud heritage to fight back from an early 12-0 deficit, clinching victory in the 76th minute with a Ben Walker field goal.

"This means a lot to the players,'' McRae said. ``It's been 11 years since the club has beaten the Roosters and that's a long time between drinks.''

Despite a suspected broken hand, likely to make last night his final game in the NRL before shifting to Wigan, back-rower Bryan Fletcher was ecstatic.

"If it is my last game what a way to go out -- I'd break the other hand if that was the result every week,'' Fletcher said.

It was a spiteful match that featured three brawls, three players placed on report and Souths winger Shannon Hegarty and Roosters duo David Shillington and Michael Crocker sin-binned.

One of the reported players, Souths centre Luke MacDougall, was fortunate to stay on the field after a shocking spear tackle on Anthony Minichiello.

McRae admitted the tackle didn't look good, while Roosters counterpart Ricky Stuart was clearly unhappy but said he would keep his opinion private.

SOUTH SYDNEY 17 (A Harrison, S Geddes tries; B Walker 4 goals, field goal) SYDNEY ROOSTERS 16 (A Roberts, A Minichiello tries; C Fitzgibbon 4 goals). Referee: R Smith. Crowd: 17,319.

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Crowe is tipped for new epic

One of Australia's most original directors, Baz Luhrmann is rumoured to have his eye on Russell Crowe for the lead role in a mysterious Australian epic love story which could start shooting as early as February. Nicole Kidman is another name that has been tossed around in connection with the project.

A team of writers is reportedly working on the film which is set between the two wars in Outback Australia. However, Crowe recently told one of the trade publications that it was all news to him.

"I really believe in what Nicole and I could bring to the screen together, and Baz is somebody I would go to the ends of the earth with. I really don't know anything about what is being printed in newspapers, but considering I see Baz quite regularly for coffee and he hasn't brought it
up ... whatever.''

Adding to the intrigue Luhrmann is also due to start filming his long-awaited epic based on the story of Alexander the Great as early as next year.

Outback epic: Russell Crowe is being talked about for the film.

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