ONE of rugby league’s most bitter old feuds could have been averted if footy legend Mark Geyer knew of a secret $20,000 donation Hollywood superstar Russell Crowe made to the Men of League foundation.

The decade-long grudge was dramatically reignited when Geyer recently attacked Crowe over his refusal to appear on Triple M’s Grill Team show.

He used the breakfast program to angrily declare he was abandoned by Crowe and left out of pocket following a serious injury in a Coffs Harbour charity game back in 2005.

News_Image_File: Former rugby league player Mark Geyer in Penrith.

“I saw Russell at the SFS last year,” Geyer said, “I was walking up the backstairs and him and James Packer were walking down. I just wanted to throttle him. I wanted to do something to him. I thought ‘you bastard’.

“When the (medical) bills started coming he brushed me. I will never forgive or forget what he did. It was the lowest part of my life.”

The Sunday Telegraph can now reveal Crowe did in fact take care of Geyer’s medical bills, unbeknown to the former Origin and Kangaroo forward.

It’s just the South Sydney owner didn’t want to make a big deal of it. We have today obtained a letter detailing a $20,000 donation Crowe sent to Men of League at the time.

He just didn’t want any publicity at the time.

We also have the bank deposit records and what Geyer was reimbursed for his out-of-pocket expenses by Men of League at the time.

News_Image_File: Letter from Russell Crowe.

In the personally signed letter to Men of League, Crowe wrote: “Given that your organisation can make ex-gratia payments to ex-players in financial difficulty I would ask that you put some of this money towards helping Mark Geyer fill the gap between his medical bills and insurance for the broken leg he suffered while playing in the Orara Valley Sevens tournament. The remainder please apply to your ongoing good works on behalf of former players. Not too many Manly players though. Only joking.”

When told of the donation, Geyer refused to back down.

“I’ve tried to contact him many times but he’s just brushed me,” Geyer said.

“He said he’d look after me when it happened. Then he tried to drive a wedge between me and my lifelong friend Spudd Carroll.

“At the time I was a father of four on $45,000-a-year. I suffered depression. He wouldn’t even take my calls.”

News_Image_File: Olivia Herman 8-year-old ball girl who is working the sidelines during Cronulla's NSW Cup games at Redmonis Stadium. Picture Gregg Porteous

HELP A LITTLE GIRL WITH A BIG HEART

RUGBY league often throws up a fantastic feel-good story that makes us all feel proud.

Eight-year-old Olivia Herman is the ball girl for the Cronulla Sharks’ NSW Cup team.

As part of a NSW Cup fundraising activity for the Starlight Children’s Foundation, Olivia does a bucket collection in the crowd after each game.

Her pitch on the Starlight Foundation website says it all:

“My name is Olivia and I am so lucky, each week I get to go to the football with my dad and run around as the ball girl for the Sharks NSW Cup team because I am fit and healthy.

“I want to help other children who can’t do these things because they are sick or in hospital. Please help me reach my fundraising goal and help The Starlight Foundation help these children.”

News_Image_File: Olivia Herman 8-year-old ball girl who is working the sidelines during Cronulla's NSW Cup games at Redmonis Stadium.

Olivia’s dad is NSW Cup coach Tony Herman. Their family tragically lost a son to meningococcal disease 12 years ago.

Next month marks what would have been his 18th birthday so the whole family is doing this to help mark what would have been a big milestone.

So far Olivia has raised $2215. The NSWRL has been so inspired by her story that it will match her money, dollar for dollar.

You can read more about the selfless little girl’s fundraising efforts and make a donation at https://nswcupwishleague.everydayhero.com/au/­team-livvy or at www.nswrl.com.au.

It’s certainly a wonderful cause.

SUNDAY SESSION

News_Rich_Media: Benji Marshall is back in Sydney ahead of his hopeful NRL return with a number of suitors expected to be interested in the former Wests Tigers star.

SAINT

BENJI Marshall’s NRL comeback. Whether he fires or not, his return will get turnstiles clicking and TV ratings spiking.

SINNER

SYDNEY FC board members, who have now sacked five coaches in five years yet refuse to take any personal responsibility.

SINNER II

BUDDY Franklin’s woeful driving.

SHOOSH

WHO is the former Olympic swimming champion being investigated by police over a number of recent assaults on the North Shore?

SHOOSH II

WHO is the old sporting legend who recently left a restaurant owner $15,000 out of pocket by not paying the bill for his guests at his birthday bash?

NO DOG DEAL

News_Rich_Media: St George Illawarra premiership winner Mark Gasnier says Benji Marshall won’t be allowed to walk into any NRL club on minimum wage, with the NRL able to reject any deal that they believe doesn’t meet the player’s net market value.

BENJI Marshall wanted more than anything else to play fullback for the Canterbury Bulldogs this year. His manager, Martin Tauber, left a phone message for Des Hasler but was told Benji’s services were not required.

SPOTTED

CATHRINE and Andrew Johns at Canberra’s hip Hotel Hotel over Easter. The Immortal and Channel 9 expert took the opportunity to turn a work trip (Sunday’s Raiders-Storm match) into a family getaway.

FIGHTING SPIRIT

BOXING legend Jeff Fenech with the inspirational John Maclean at Leichhardt’s Grappa restaurant. Fenech has lost 15kg in eight weeks on a new fitness campaign.

News_Image_File: Channel Nine make an error.

CREDIT WHERE IT’S OVERDUE

I LOVED an email we received from a reader during the week calling on the NRL to issue all 2017 Cronulla Sharks members a medal.

“Anyone who supports a team for 50 years without a premiership deserves one,” wrote Grant West from the Shire.

THE FRENCH DEFECTION

ANOTHER NRL player is heading off to play rugby union in France. Sharks winger Nathan Stapleton has been offered double the money he is on to switch codes.

WE’VE ALL BEEN THERE

THE media can be a tough business — one in which we’re all guilty of making mistakes. Check out the scoreline in Channel Nine’s Easter Monday news bulletin. They had the wrong team winning the Tigers-Eels blockbuster at ANZ Stadium.

News_Image_File: Manly membership campaign for 2013.

DALY’S BODY LANGUAGE SHOWS SEA EAGLES RIFT

NEXT time Manly players celebrate a try on television, watch for the body language between departing second-rower Glenn Stewart and halfback Daly Cherry-Evans.

You won’t see much. We’re told the two Sea Eagles stars are now barely on speaking terms.

The quote from Cherry-Evans last week when Stewart announced he was joining the Rabbitohs pretty much summed up their strained relationship.

“I’m obviously glad he’s got his future sorted out and now as a club we can move forward,” Cherry-Evans said.

Hardly a caring, sensitive or emotional response to the departure of a much-admired club legend.

What a difference 18 months makes when the club used Stewart as the face of their membership campaign.

News_Image_File: Daily Telegraph from 2009.

NRL RUNNING WITH ANNESLEY’S IDEA

THE NRL has finally latched on to an idea first raised in this newspaper by former head of football Graham Annesley back in 2009.

Five years ago Annesley told colleague Dave Riccio that a central war room should be established to get consistency into video-ref try decisions. Todd Greenberg is now running with the idea and costing the project for the independent commission to make the final call.

GEORGE LEAVES WITH A BANG

GEORGE Souris’ last job as state minister for tourism and racing was one of his best gigs.

He hosted the corporate suite at Allianz Stadium for Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge at the Waratahs game last weekend.

Just 48 hours later he was dumped by new premier Mike Baird from his revamped cabinet. Penrith will be delighted with the appointment of Souris’ replacement, Stuart Ayres, a mad Panthers supporter.

BARLOW ON A ROUGH ROAD

IT’S not a good look for Sydney FC when their own chairman is caught drink-driving.

Scott Barlow pleaded guilty in Waverley Court during the week to a mid-range offence.

He escaped with his licence intact and no conviction but was put on a two-year good

behaviour bond.

Ironically it happened in the same week that Barlow sacked coach Frank Farina, who lost his previous job at Brisbane Roar for a drink-driving offence.

I spoke to Barlow who sounded incredibly remorseful but declined to comment.

SET OF SIX — NIGEL PLUM (PENRITH)

FAVOURITE CAR: Anything from any company that wants to give me a freebie!

FAVOURITE TV SHOW: Shaun the Sheep. Blame the kids

FAVOURITE MOVIE: Wedding Crashers

DREAM DINNER: Buffet!

FAVOURITE DRINK: Strawberry Oak

FAVOURITE RESTAURANT: Osso’s at Panthers Leagues Club

NATHAN PEATS’ SPORTING HERO: BRAD FITTLER

I always loved to watch Brad Fittler play. He was a great role model when I was a kid with the way he could beat players with that magical step of his and had all the skills. A true champion.