Russell Crowe backs South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou as pressure mounts

Rabbitohs co-owner and Hollywood star Russell Crowe sent a text message to club powerbrokers following the club’s second-biggest loss of all-time against the Roosters on Friday night.

Russell Crowe has weighed in on the Rabbitohs.

Russell Crowe has thrust his heavyweight support behind South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou, believing he is the man to elevate the club from its lowest position in 14 years.

The Rabbitohs co-owner and Hollywood star sent a text message to club powerbrokers following the second-biggest loss to the Roosters in the club’s history on Friday night.

Without avoiding the stark reality of the situation, Crowe made the point in his message that fortunes in rugby league can improve, just as quickly as they can go sour.

The Sunday Telegraph has also learned that the Rabbitohs’ key decision-makers also made a point of declaring Demetriou safe - for now - inside the team’s away dressing room after the embarrassing 48-6 thumping by their arch rivals.

What is also being made clear from inside the Rabbitohs camp is that the only way the spotlight can be removed is by beating the Bulldogs at Accor Stadium on Good Friday.

The Rabbitohs powerbrokers believe that there should be no excuses not to perform across the next three weeks, which are all home games.

Rabbitohs captain Cameron Murray and head coach Jason Demetriou talk to the media following their loss to the Rabbitohs. Picture: Getty Images

Following the Bulldogs, the Bunnies tackle the Warriors and Sharks at Accor Stadium before then having a bye.

While not without effort, the form of experienced half Cody Walker and the below-par kicking game of recalled halfback Dean Hawkins will lead to debate over whether Lachlan Ilias, who was relegated to NSW Cup on Friday night, should be recalled.

Only one out of the last 15 teams to begin 0-3 have gone on to play finals, with the Rabbitohs now $1.50 favourites with the TAB miss out on the top eight.

Despite the admission of this being the “lowest point of his career”, Demetriou portrayed himself in high regard in the post-match press conference.

He failed to shy away from the pressure, voicing why he believes he is the man to lead the club out of the mire.

The Rabbitohs have now lost five straight games, dating back to last season, and 12 of the past 16 games.

The Rabbitohs suffered their third straight loss to the start the season when they went down to the Roosters on Friday night. Credit: NRL Images.

“It’s disappointing, it hurts, it’s probably the lowest point of my career right now but I know how we get out of it. We’ll fight and fight together,” Demetriou said.

“I’ve got a lot of trust in this group, they’re a great group, they care about each other and that’s probably our biggest problem at the moment, we don’t want to be in this position but we have to accept our reality and fight our way out of it.

“I know this group and I know they’ll get out of it.”

The Rabbitohs players conducted a recovery session and multicultural experience at Heffron Park on Saturday.

They will resume training on Monday with a call from Walker for the entire playing group to solve their struggling on-field performances.

“It’s a time for us that we’re tested at the moment,” Walker said.

“We’re not where we want to be 0-3. But I can assure you that we’re working hard to get things right.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do. But I can assure you that we’re going to get to the bottom of it.”