South Sydney co-owner and Hollywood superstar Russell Crowe is taking a significant behind-the-scenes role in the NRL’s Las Vegas adventure, but another big-name actor, Hugh Jackman, is proving hard to lock down.
Crowe is not really known for his background work, but that is what he is doing for the NRL as rugby league’s governing body looks to gain traction in the US before the historic season-opening double-header on March 3.
Sources with knowledge of the situation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the talks, said Crowe recently had a face-to-face meeting with NRL executives, but no one at head office was willing to confirm the discussions, let alone divulge any of the details of what took place. But other sources say Crowe is playing a significant role in the NRL’s American mission.
NRL officials also want to get passionate Sea Eagles fan Jackman involved, but they are still trying to lock him down.
Crowe has made it clear to league officials that selling the game in the US will be tough. He is happy to be in the background and it is highly unlikely you will see him at the NRL’s upcoming media sessions in Las Vegas. He is busy in his day job, making movies after having time off due to the strike by Hollywood writers and actors.
Crowe is a strong supporter of the NRL’s bid to break into the US market. His Rabbitohs are front and centre in the NRL’s push to capitalise on America’s love of contact sport.
Russell Crowe in the stands at a Souths game with fellow Hollywood stars Chris Hemsworth and Jeff Goldblum.Credit: Getty
It was always thought Crowe and Jackman would be the frontmen for the South Sydney v Manly clash, but unless there is a last-minute change of plan, neither will be at the NRL’s launch this month.
It also remains to be seen whether Crowe will be with Souths when they go into camp in San Diego in February, before moving to Vegas.
The NRL has tried, largely unsuccessfully, to get a gauge on whether Jackman will help promote the Vegas event. Given his Manly team will open the season, it would have been a coup, but now the NRL is working on linking with other sports and their stars to promote the event.
There is no question Crowe’s connections will come in handy as the NRL looks to create some buzz in the busy American market.
Time bomb
Brad Fittler is entitled to be furious with NSW Rugby League about the long-term deal given to Michael Maguire, his replacement as NSW Blues coach. But, given Fittler’s standing as a Blues great, he knows how damaging any attack on his previous employers would be.
Fittler is also not a grudge holder. His high-profile supporters have been in touch following news Maguire was offered a “multi-year” deal. Fittler was offered five months.
The length of term was one of two surprises when Maguire’s appointment was confirmed on Thursday. The other was the excellent appointment of Melbourne’s stalwart football manager Frank Ponissi.
The longer-term deal is essential for Maguire to establish himself in the job.
“It’s extremely important for stability,” Maguire said. “It’s important that the players see that. Some of them will be 10-year Origin players.”
The five-month contract offered to Fittler will hover over NSWRL officials until Maguire wins his first series. Hopefully for NSW, that’s in his first year.
Dogs not Jarome yet
What do we read into the Bulldogs’ initial meeting with Jarome Luai?
Jarome Luai is in demand.Credit: Rhett Wyman
That they didn’t make an offer is standard practice for Canterbury general manager Phil Gould and coach Cameron Ciraldo when it comes to dealing with their former club, Penrith. They would not want to be seen as encouraging players to leave the Panthers, even though they have two of their former stars, Matt Burton and Stephen Crichton, on their books.
Gould and Ciraldo simply wanted to gauge Luai’s thoughts. The Bulldogs will only get serious about talking dollars once Luai tells them he is definitely leaving Penrith. Until then, they will respect the Panthers.
Indications are that Luai is on the move. That has been the case since he employed a new management company, Black Money Enterprises, to explore his options.
It would be a far bigger surprise if he ignored the likes of Wests Tigers, the Bulldogs and others to stay with Penrith.
There has also been a lot made of the fact the meeting was conducted away from the prying cameras of the general public and professional photographers who take delight in capturing Gould with rival players.
Don’t forget, there was never a photo when Gould was wooing Ciraldo. In fact, at that time, Gould went to great lengths to have the meetings at a western Sydney hotel, where he even had CCTV cameras turned off.
I’ve been told the meeting with Luai was held in a similar location with the same level of effort put in to keep prying eyes away. The Bulldogs believe the story was leaked by a rival club, which found out about the discussions through Luai’s management.
Home and away
Key recruit Jayden “Bud” Sullivan is still in shock that he is a Tiger, saying he thought he would be a Dragon for life.
Sullivan also admitted he returned briefly to Wollongong to live as he was suffering from severe homesickness.
Jayden Sullivan never thought he’d leave the Dragons.Credit: Edwina Pickles
The Dragons granted Sullivan a release from his contract in August to take up a four-year contract with the Tigers.
“I felt like I was going to be a one-club person; a Dragon always,” he said. “But I wanted and needed an opportunity. I still love the Dragons – there’s no bad blood there – so who’s to know where my career is gonna end up?
“I love the Dragons. I love the Tigers now ... that’s all in the past and I just worry about tomorrow.”
He also talked about the call he made to Gould to knock back the opportunity to play for the club he supported as a child, Canterbury.
“When the Dogs went after me, I was really keen,” he said. “Then it got a bit crazy and I had a rethink. I called ‘Gus’ [Gould] and I was like, ‘I can’t do it’. I wasn’t ready to leave home at that point.”
And even when he got to the Tigers, he was battling being away from home.
“Just before pre-season, I got cold feet,” he said. “I didn’t want to be in Sydney and I went back home and slept on my sister’s couch for two weeks. It was hard for me, but the club and boys have made it better.”
Min Woo ‘would love to be the face of Australian golf’
Min Woo Lee and his sister, Minjee, appear polar opposites when it comes to their characters and approaches to life and golf, but their pride in their Korean heritage is evident.
Minjee has strong corporate backing in Asian markets, and Min Woo says he wants to be Australia’s version of Tiger Woods on a number of different levels.
“Tiger plays great golf and I would love to be the face of Australian golf,” he said. “I feel like I can, and I want to keep playing good golf and, again, make people happy.”
Min Woo is not in the “chosen one” category – as Tiger’s dad, Earl, dubbed his son when it came to his impact on sport and society – but he does want to make a difference. Asked if he wants to break down barriers, he said: “Yes, I want to make a difference. I’ve been playing globally and I want to represent everyone. I want to grow the game of golf and make everyone play.
“Golf is a sport where you can play at any age and, hopefully, I can do that for anyone, everywhere, any country. So, for sure, South Korea’s my second country, my background and I’d love to be the face of that, too. And maybe an Olympian. To play well and represent Australia would be definitely a big, big achievement.”
King crowned
Cathy King is not a well known rugby league official, but she is certainly one of the best in her field.
King has the official and well-deserved title of executive manager of club operations, but the Roosters simply know her as a mother figure to all the players, and she has been in the role for 30 years. Aside from chairman Nick Politis, it is doubtful there has been a longer serving Roosters official.
The Roosters have already announced that King will become the first female life member in the club’s 115-year history, but what they didn’t make public is the regard in which she is held by all who deal with her. The Roosters had a surprise celebration for King, where the biggest of names at the club made time to attend. She was picked up by coach Trent Robinson and driven to the event, which she thought was an opening of the Waverley Bowling Club.
Brad Fittler and Craig Wing were there, and also the man who wrote her reference all those years ago, former Channel Nine boss David Gyngell. Perhaps the greatest indication of King’s standing at the club was the attendance of Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon. He ended training early at Cronulla – something he never does – to get to the Roosters event.
Schuster setback
Josh Schuster had been making good progress on his fitness until a significant setback last week. He contracted chickenpox – never pleasant as an adult.
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