Russell Crowe is now a proud owner of a rugby team down under.

After surviving a cliff-hanger climax to a historic vote for control of South Sydney Rabbitohs, movie star Crowe and multi-millionaire Peter Holmes a Court are the new owners of the Rabbitohs. The purchase of the team was approved by the 5000 members of the south Sydney Rugby League. Crowe and his partner are paying a little more than $2 million. 

In truth, few expected the pair to gain 75 per cent of the vote which was needed to take Souths from its members’ hands for the first time in 98 years. Their $3 million investment entitles them to four seats on an eight-member board, with Channel Nine CEO Eddie Maguire touted as a possible director.

I do hope Crowe acts himself as a model boss after the takeover. Crowe’s hot temper, his famed phone throwing incident, and his beer swilling performances with his band have apparently tarnished the Aussie actor’s  G-rated credentials.

Crowe’s offer of taking a stroll down Sesame Street, the children’s show in which celebrity guests make their appearance, has been rejected by the show’s producers, as they think he is not a very good role model for kids.

Obviously anybody who steps into this situation and doesn’t get results is going to be questioned. Crowe must transform this success-starved club into winners. This year was too early for change; next year too. But a Premiership in 2008 is worth thinking seriously about.