A big congratulations to all South Sydney Rabbitohs supporters in the aftermath of Russell Crowe’s online comments, saying he will not be putting in as much money to the club as in previous years.
It should be common to all, let alone the media, that Crowe can not stay in acting forever. There will be a stage in the man’s career where he will simply have to hang up his boots and bid farewell to Hollywood.
With this impeding move, that also means the valuable amounts of cash that seems to come into Crowe’s pockets all the time, will also slow down.
With Crowe’s announcement, many around league circles were thinking that he was being a snob, who was starting to turn his back on his beloved South Sydney.
Far from it.
In an online poll conducted by the Daily Telegraph on Tuesday, an overwhelming 88 percent of respondents said Crowe was being a realist rather than a scrooge.
Of course, he is a realist, and it’s great for most of South Sydney to realise the truth behind his move.
Since Crowe has taken over the club, the Rabbitohs made their first finals appearance in 2007 since the club was reborn in 2002, whilst also bringing some world class players into the side.
Among the impressive crop of players he has recruited are Rhys Wesser, Roy Asotasi, Nigel Vagana, Dean Widders, David Peachey and David Kidwell.
Although some of those players have either gone overseas or retired, Crowe has established a competitive roster that was generally considered one of the weakest in the NRL at the beginning of the new millennium.
And lets not forget that he did not have to fork out the three million or so dollars to build the Rabbitohs back to good health. He could have just stayed being a passionate supporter of the Redfern-based club.
But no, he went out of his way to forge a deal with Peter Holmes a Court and save South Sydney from financial disaster.
Although a premiership will not be coming anytime soon for the Bunnies, Crowe’s work for them has laid the foundations for the club to achieve some pretty neat success in the near future.
wallythefly
Roar Rookie
Couldn't agree more Westy!
Westy
Guest
Also forgot to mention the $20 million redevelopment of Redfern Oval into a Souths training facility and community centre for members only trial games will also greatly assist the club.My father was an ardent rugby supporter but he always had a soft spot for Souths. Took me at various times to see Randwick at Coogee and Souths at Redfern. He told me these were great clubs. i think he was right. Souths connection is beyond Redfern but still is Redfern.
Westy
Guest
Leftarmspinner i agree but like you will give Crowe credit. Souths have a real brand name and image with a broader nexus then Redfern oval. They had an average 2008 home crowd of 14644. As Richardson has made clear these were paying customers a dig at the Bulldogs illusory 15352. There membership drive is gaining momentum and will achieve the 8000 target. Small relative to the AFL clubs but moving in the right direction. Funny isn't it a 14644 average would make Souths the second strongest English superleague club and the third strongest Guinness premiership rugby union club in England. Wallythefly I remember when the Souths boys turned up in fashionable suits to games in their heyday in the late 60's.Flashback to O'Neill,Satler, Walters, Coote, Sait,Moses, Honan ,James, Simms, Honan, Grant ,Pittard and McCarthy and the reserve grader Piggins and apologies to anyone I left out. They had real charisma both on and off the field. Just like the great Randwick I hope Souths survive anfd flourish. I like a little tradition.
oikee
Guest
Its called Mongrel wallythefly, and until they get some souths will linger in around 8th spot. You watch the Dragons go this year. :)
wallythefly
Roar Rookie
Crowe might not have come across that well on the news but all fellow Souths fans I've spoken to agree with what he's saying. Souths have made an unbelievable effort to drive up their membership having head hunted a bloke who as the membership manager at the Swans. Last year's membership was 6,500 which was double the previous year. 2009 they're aiming for 8,000 with nearly 6,000 signed up and its still before Christmas! I think Crowe's most important thing is adding a level of proffessionalism to the club, instead of players just making up the numbers they're going to games in Armani suits. i know that might seem like a token thing, but i think it makes the players feel like are pro's and on a level playing field to all the other teams. Something, in my opinion, has been missing for souths for quite a while.
LeftArmSpinner
Guest
I agree that Crowe has done a good job but it also highlights the fact that owning a sporting club/organisation is a very difficult gig, particularly in a region/country and in a code and comp that doesn't achieve large crowds. Despite his significant earnings, even someone earning multi millions cant afford such a club!! That narrows the field of people who are able (even if they are willing) to own a team. Just look at the Sydney Kings, Sydney Spirit, the Cairns Taipans for further examples of owners who run out of cash. And, even the Sydney Swans cant make a profit, despite being the only AFL team in the largest city for more than 20 years. If the revenues are not there, you MUST reduce the costs!! This is not something you hear much of, because of each sport being in a global market for players.