Souths owner Russell Crowe breaks his silence over bombshell report that has left the footy world in shock

Russell Crowe has described a report he is looking to sell out of NRL club South Sydney as 'bulls***'.

Reports emerged on Monday the Hollywood actor is in the market to sell his 25 per cent stake in the Rabbitohs, who he bought with businessman Peter Holmes à Court for $3 million in 2006.

But in a statement provided to Australian Associate Press, Crowe advised journalists to make the most of the Australian weather rather than concern themselves with his business dealings.

'Just tell them all it's bulls***, and advise them to enjoy the summer sun,' Crowe said.

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

'Enjoy the summer sun while it's there and ignore the trolls. WB [coach Wayne Bennett] back onboard. A fresh energy about the place. An arrowhead on our intentions.'

Russell Crowe (pictured with Anthony Albanese) has emphatically denied a bombshell report that he is trying to sell his stake in the South Sydney Rabbitohs

The Gladiator star (pictured at a Souths game in 2023) currently owns 25 per cent of the club

The Rabbitohs declined to comment publicly when contacted.

South Sydney finished the 2006 season in last place after Crowe and Holmes à Court bought the team earlier that year by narrowly winning a vote that was put to the club's more than 3000 members at the time.

Crowe brought Hollywood glitz and glamour to the club almost straight away, famously having the players kitted out in clothing by Armani, and getting fellow megastars like Tom Cruise and Chris Hemsworth along to games.

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

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

From the 2007 season, the team got on a roll that culminated in them winning the 2015 grand final to record a record 21st premiership victory.

Another grand final followed in 2021 as the Rabbitohs lost to Penrith, and the side remained competitive until failing to make the final eight in 2023, then sliding to a disappointing 16th on the ladder last year.

It was a horror season that saw coach Jason Demetriou sacked, and the team's best player, Latrell Mitchell, get punished by club bosses after his white powder scandal followed a run of injury and on-field controversies to ruin the fullback's year.

Crowe (pictured at a Bunnies match in 2018) played a leading role in turning the team from also-rans into premiers after taking over in 2006

But despite that, Souths remain in a good position financially as the club recorded profits for the last seven years, including making $14million in 2024.

Crowe's takeover was far from a sure thing as he and Holmes à Court's bid only got up by 32 votes, with 3942 members casting ballots.

'This means we have a future, we have a future and we have cash in the bank and we can begin to focus on the very thing that all of the factionalism and the in-fighting stops us focusing on which is playing the game of football and playing it competitively,' Crowe told the club's fans after the win.

The bombshell report is not the first time the star has been connected to offloading his shares in the team.

In 2012, Souths announced that he was going to sell his then 37.5 per cent stake before Crowe changed his mind.

'There's a personal equation here. He has a young family. Obviously his commitments with work have been excessive over the last 18 months,' then Rabbitohs chairman Nicholas Pappas said, referring to Crowe's separation from his then-wife Danielle Spencer.

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