Russell Crowe issues emotional call to arms for South Sydney-St George Illawarra NRL semi-final
FOR South Sydney co-owner Russell Crowe, this Saturday night’s sudden death semi-final against fierce rivals St George Illawarra is the most significant date since the Rabbitohs ended their 43-year premiership drought.
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IT will be the biggest day in rugby league since the 2014 grand final.
That’s the verdict from rugby league Gladiator Russell Crowe, who has issued a heartfelt and spirited call to arms for his famous South Sydney Rabbitohs.
In an exclusive interview with The Daily Telegraph, the passionate Souths co-owner and Hollywood star has marked Saturday’s massive sudden death semi-final against fierce rivals St George Illawarra as the most significant date on the NRL calendar since the Rabbitohs ended their 43-year premiership drought.
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While Crowe’s Book Of Feuds has few positive words to say about local rivals the Sydney Roosters, he is full of praise for the Rabbitohs’ rivalry with now joint-venture club the Dragons, declaring: “They’ve changed their name, but they’ve never changed their spirit.”
That spirit was on display when the Dragons upset Brisbane 48-18 on Sunday to book a promoter’s dream match-up with the Rabbitohs at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.
“For as much as you could ever say there is a kinship in the cutthroat rivalry of sport, there exists one between these two great clubs and I can’t wait to feel the energy of the crowd and see the flags waving,” Crowe said.
“If you are a diehard Souths supporter you would not be anywhere else but ANZ Stadium on Saturday night. It’s going to be a great night for rugby league.
“It is going to be huge. It’s the biggest date in rugby league since October 5th, 2014 (South Sydney’s last grand final win).”
A bumper crowd of more than 50,000 is expected for the first finals clash between the Rabbitohs and Dragons since 1984.
Crowe once again showed his passion for the game’s traditions by recalling the grand history between the two clubs.
“The ancient connection between these two clubs runs deep,” Crowe said.
“I can remember the old diggers in pubs my dad used to manage in the early 1970s, loving to tell the tales of battles past.
“It seemed like every room back then you could divide equally between the cardinal and myrtle and the blood and bandages.
“There’s no doubt that we respect the Red V.
“For a long time St George were our little brothers, a connection forged by returned soldiers and ambulance men from the first World War.
“Competition was fierce between the clubs, but always in great spirit.
“Then swiftly after the early 1950s, when Souths dominated through the Jack Rayner, Clive Churchill era, the little brothers went on to 11 straight grand final wins that made the Dragons the absolute benchmark and the glamour team of the sport and so many of their players living legends.”
Crowe even recalled the grainy black-and-white television coverage from when Souths and St George played in front of massive crowds at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
There was no bigger game than the 1965 grand final, won 12-8 by Saints, when many of the then record crowd of 78,056 fans famously sat on top of grandstands.
“The stories told of the crowds in the 1960s and the black-and-white images of the SCG rooftops jammed with people are all etched in the folklore of rugby league,” Crowe said.
Crowe also took to social media to issue his call to arms …
South Sydney v St. George Illawarra
— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) September 9, 2018
sudden death final
ANZ Stadium 7:40pm Saturday night . @SSFCRABBITOHS
The folkloric tales of mighty finals clashes and images of record crowds covering the roof tops come to mind. It’s going to huge.
I’ll see you there. #SSTID
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