- Star is one of the highest–profile figures in rugby league
- Played major role in turning Souths’ fortunes around
Russell Crowe has refused an offer from a ‘business heavyweight’ to buy his 25 per cent stake in the South Sydney Rabbitohs for $10million, it has been reported.
The Gladiator star has been trying to sell his share in the club since January, according to previous reports.
Crowe vehemently denied those claims, but now they have resurfaced in a News Corp article that maintains he won’t sell up for less than $20million.
Back in January, the Hollywood superstar, who has had an interest in the club since he bought a share for $3million alongside businessman Peter Holmes à Court in 2006, branded the reports ‘bulls***’.
He even went as far as telling reporters to go and ‘enjoy the summer sun’ instead of speculating on the narrative.
Taking to X, Crowe added: ‘Re: SSFC [South Sydney Football Club]. What would January in Australia be without desperate legacy media conspiracy theories?
Russell Crowe (pictured) has turned down an offer to sell his 25 per cent stake in South Sydney, according to a report
The Hollywood star wasn’t moved by a $10million offer for his share in the club
‘Enjoy the summer sun while it’s there and ignore the trolls. WB [coach Wayne Bennett] is back on board. A fresh energy about the place. An arrowhead on our intentions.’
Souths have endured a disastrous season since Crowe wrote those words.
While they had some early success under Bennett, the Bunnies are currently dead last on the ladder with just six wins from 20 games.
The Rabbitohs are riding a nine-match losing streak and are one of the favourites to get the wooden spoon – which would be a first for Bennett in his NRL coaching career.
Souths have been hit by a shocking injury crisis that has left 13 of the club’s top players unavailable – and the team weren’t even able to field an 18th man during their 60-14 demolition by the Brisbane Broncos on Friday night.
Since his investment in the club 19 years ago, Crowe has become a central figure with Souths and has always worn his heart on his sleeve.
But it seems one bombshell report from nearly 12 years ago could have been at the heart of the speculation over his future with the Rabbitohs.
In 2012, ABC News claimed that the Rabbitohs had confirmed that Crowe had indicated that he wished to sell his part-stake in the team.
Crowe (pictured with fellow Souths fan Anthony Albanese) shot down reports he wants to sell his quarter-share in the club back in January
Despite being led by ‘supercoach’ Wayne Bennett (pictured), the Bunnies are last on the ladder after enduring a horror season in 2025
Rabbitohs chairman Nick Pappas and then-chief executive Shane Richardson spoke to ease fan concerns over the stability of the club after Crowe’s announcement.
They added that Crowe’s decision was a ‘personal’ one and that there was an understanding that the actor would find a buyer to replace him.
He later spoke out on the decision to sell his shares in the club, which back then sat at 37.5 per cent, claiming that he wanted to spend more time with his family.
‘It’s pretty simple, I have to make more time for my family,’ he said to Fox League. ‘I have loved the responsibility of bringing South Sydney back to being a competitive force.’
But the Gladiator star would make a U-turn on his plans, instead changing his mind and opting to stay on as a part shareholder.
He now owns a quarter of the footy club alongside former Crown Resorts chairman James Packer and Mike Cannon-Brookes, a technology entrepreneur. The final share is distributed among Souths’ members.
Under their leadership, the Souths ended a 43-year wait for a premiership back in 2014 and are now also financially stable.
That comes after the club fell on hard times in the ’90s, ultimately being booted from the NRL in 1999.
