A-listers join Russell Crowe for Rabbitohs-Roosters footy match

Russell Crowe has recruited a new crop of Rabbitohs fans, with a gang of Hollywood A-Listers in the stands of Friday’s NRL match — and in the locker room. SEE WHO BACKED THE BUNNIES

They might play warriors on the silver screen, but a group of Hollywood A-listers watched a real battle on the footy field on Friday.

Thor actor Chris Hemsworth and his co-stars Natalie Portman, Jeff Goldblum and Tessa Thompson joined Russell Crowe at Stadium Australia on Friday night to watch the South Sydney Rabbitohs play the Sydney Roosters.

Jeff Goldblum (black Bunnies cap) talks to Chris Hemsworth (in white) and Russell Crowe (back to camera) at the Rabbitohs v Roosters match. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Director Taika Waititi (left) and Hemsworth. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Hemsworth with newly brunette wife Elsa Pataky Picture: Getty Images

Bunnies-mad Crowe, who bought the NRL side in 2006, cut a serious figure in the stands as he focused on the game, while Goldblum, Hemsworth and Thompson chatted with those around them, each sporting a Rabbitohs cap.

Portman and her husband were also seen seated wearing matching hats, with the 39 year-old laughing as she enjoyed a glass of champagne near Crowe.

Crowe watched his beloved Rabbitohs down the Roosters 26-16. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Hemsworth, Goldblum, Thompson and Portman are in Sydney filming the latest Marvel superhero instalment Thor: Love and Thunder, with sets cordoning off parts of Centennial Park and Little Bay in recent weeks.

Aussie actress Isla Fisher also joined the star-studded stadium section with a glass of bubbly, while Hemsworth’s wife Elsa Pataky was seen cosying up for a cuddle with her Norse god hubby with a drink in hand.

Actress Natalie Portman and her husband Benjamin Millepied enjoyed a glass of bubbly during the match. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Thor: Love and Thunder director Taika Waititi also made an appearance.

Despite cheering at the on-field tackles, the group of celebs have a long history of hard knocks on-screen.

Isla Fisher was also spotted enjoying a drink, with Tessa Thompson. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

While Crowe is best known for his roles in Gladiator and Robin Hood, god of thunder Hemsworth has also helmed action movies like Extraction and 12 Strong, while Portman recently starred as a gun-toting explorer in Netflix sci-fi horror film Annihilation alongside Thompson.

Independence Day and the Jurassic Park franchise made Goldblum a household name, while Fisher took on a dangerous aquarium stunt in 2013 magician thriller flick Now You See Me.

And if international exposure was his goal, Crowe certainly succeeded with images of the game published across news and entertainment sites across the US, the UK and even Canada on Saturday, albeit with a few referring to the event as “a rugby match” and not “rugby league”.

Hemsworth took a team shot with the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Picture: Instagram

Hemsworth took some pictures with the South Sydney players. Picture: Instagram

Hemsworth, in particular, threw himself into the evening and later posed up with the winning team before he and wife Elsa Pataky joined Crowe for a celebratory cruise of Sydney Harbour on Saturday.

Crowe has long touted his beloved sport to Hollywood and most famously recruited a Souths fan in Tom Cruise who he dragged along to a game back in 1999.

Russell Crowe (right) joined Elsa Pataky and Chris Hemsworth on a cruise of Sydney Harbour. Picture: Instagram

Meanwhile, Goldblum’s appearance in the Thor camp on Friday night — the actor quietly flew into Sydney last week — sparked intense chatter among Marvel fans that the actor is set to reprise his role of Grandmaster from Thor: Ragnarok.

Parent company Disney is yet to officially confirm Goldblum’s cameo in the film, however the actor hinted he may return for the Thor sequel in an interview back in 2019, telling Buzzfeed: “Hey we’re talking about it. I love Taika Waititi, he’s a great director and a friend of mine, so I hope so.”