Russell Crowe is accused of hiding the ‘real’ reason he shot down bombshell report that he is trying to sell his stake in Souths

Russell Crowe is accused of dismissing a bombshell report that he is looking to sell his stake in the South Sydney NRL team, not because it was inaccurate, but because it distracted from the squad’s first day of training.

The Hollywood star is trying to get rid of his 25 percent of the club and is looking for investors willing to pay up to $20 million to buy the club from him, News Corp said.

Crowe joined the team in 2006, when he and businessman Peter Holmes à Court dramatically gained control, with Crowe giving a stirring speech to the members to convince them to vote for the club.

On Monday, Crowe flatly dismissed the claim, telling Australian Associated Press: “Just tell them [Aussies] it’s all nonsense, and advise them to enjoy the summer sun.’

He later posted the following message on X: ‘Re SSFC [South Sydney Football Club]. What would January be in Australia without desperate, old-fashioned conspiracy theories in the media?

‘Enjoy the summer sun when it comes and ignore the trolls. WB [coach Wayne Bennett] back on board. A fresh energy about the place. An arrowhead to our intentions.’

However, News Corp now quotes an unnamed ‘Souths insider’ as insisting Crowe made the statement out of anger as the report diverted attention from the Rabbitohs’ first training session in 2025.

“He didn’t want anything to take the focus away from preparing for the season, not after the drama of the past few seasons,” the insider told the publication.

“He is notoriously private in his business dealings, always has been.”

The ‘drama’ referred to includes the club failing to reach the finals in 2023 after crashing down the ladder in the second half of the year, followed by the Bunnies finishing second in 2024 finished last.

That dramatic drop in form saw coach Jason Demetriou fired, and the team’s best and most high-profile player, Latrell Mitchell, had his year ruined by injury and a headline-grabbing scandal.

The fullback’s representative was photographed leaning over a mysterious white powder on a table during a trip to Dubbo, which resulted in an infringement notice and suspension by the NRL, in addition to a $100,000 fine from the Bunnies.

Souths quickly came around the corner after Crowe took over and made their first finals run for 18 seasons when they broke into the top eight in 2007.

Crowe (pictured bottom center) has given the Rabbitohs a Hollywood touch and has convinced fellow movie stars such as Taika Waititi (top left), Chris Hemsworth (second from left), Elsa Pataky (left, middle row) and Isla Fischer (second from left) , middle row) to come to matches

Holmes à Court resigned as executive chairman and CEO in May 2008, and Crowe currently has an equal stake in the club as businessmen Mike Cannon-Brookes, James Packer and the team members.

A US investor is interested in buying the stock and is investigating South Sydney’s operations, according to the report, which also says Packer and Cannon-Brookes have the option to buy Crowe’s shares.

Crowe brought Hollywood glitz and glamor to the club almost immediately, famously decking out the players in Armani clothing and bringing along fellow megastars such as Tom Cruise and Chris Hemsworth to matches.

After winning the minor premiership in 1989, the club fell on extremely difficult times financially and competitively, leading to their expulsion from the NRL in 1999.

The Bunnies won reinstatement in 2002 after a lengthy court battle, but their battle continued until the change of ownership.

From the 2007 season onwards the team hit the road, culminating in winning the 2014 Grand Final and achieving a record 21st premiership victory.