'Stop doing that': Hollywood star Russell Crowe reveals decision to step back from attending Rabbitohs games
Russell Crowe has explained his decision to step back from attending South Sydney games, admitting his public outbursts may have been "mentally affecting" the team.
The 60-year-old has held an ownership position with the Rabbitohs for close to two decades and helped rebuild the club into a premiership force.
Crowe was a regular at home games for many years, but has started to be spotted less and less in more recent season as the Bunnies started to struggle on the field.
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Russell Crowe at a South Sydney game in 2021. Cameron Spencer via Getty Images
However, according to the Hollywood star, his lack of appearances have nothing to do with the side's performances, which saw them miss the finals in 2023 and 2024.
"I can't affect that outcome so you sort of just have to accept what's going on," he told Nova 96.9's Fitzy and Wippa with Kate Ritchie on Monday.
"I realised that by showing my passion in the grandstands was potentially giving the media outlets a way of mentally affecting the team.
"There was all these photos of me strangling the imaginary referee.
Russell Crowe is as passionate as they come about his NRL club. Getty
"I thought that I'm gonna stop doing that. I'd go to a game and see what happens then I'd go backstage and you can swear.
"I try and keep my cool because, you know, I think about it from the players' perspective. They don't want to see the boss looking like he's pissed off in the Monday newspaper."
Crowe first bought the club in 2006 alongside businessman Peter Holmes a Court, lifting the cardinal and myrtle back from years of financial and performance-based issues.
In more recent years, James Packer and Mike Cannon-Brookes have become involved in the ownership group, with the three moguls owning 75 per cent of the club and the fans owning the other 25 per cent.
