Crowe has been wonderful for Souths. He has also stood the test of time. He didn't try to change the world overnight. He has slowly built up the strength and credibility of this club over a long period. I stand and applaud Crowe for his efforts. I thank him on behalf of rugby league for what he has done with the South Sydney club. The grand-final appearance for the Rabbitohs this week is a fitting reward for his efforts. So, for those of you who have missed all the action, or for those of you who would simply like to recall the story so far, thanks to my good friend and stats guru David Middleton, here is a brief history of Russell Crowe's journey with South Sydney. July 25, 1999: Crowe and fellow actor Tom Cruise are on hand to support South Sydney in the club's round-21 clash against Auckland.

December 10, 2001: Crowe offers to underwrite a contract for a South Sydney player in 2002. January 25, 2002: Crowe throws a party on his property near Coffs Harbour for the Rabbitohs. March 15, 2002: 35,316 fans turn out at Aussie Stadium to watch South Sydney's official return to the NRL. Crowe and 97-year-old Rabbitohs veteran Albert Clift ring the original South Sydney timekeeper's bell, signifying the start of a new era for the foundation club. March 23, 2002: After only one match back in the NRL, South Sydney have 12 players unavailable for selection through injury. Despite the losses, the Rabbitohs secure their first win with a 30-22 victory over Canberra at Bruce Stadium. Crowe speaks to every Souths player by telephone from Los Angeles. March 31, 2002: Sharks coach Chris Anderson accuses Crowe of breaking the NRL's anti-tampering rules by attempting to entice Nathan Blacklock and Preston Campbell to South Sydney.

June 8, 2003: With Crowe watching from the sidelines, South Sydney score a rare victory by thumping Melbourne 41-14 at Aussie Stadium. June 15, 2003: Crowe throws an extravagant dinner for South Sydney players at a swank Woolloomooloo hotel. March 10, 2005: Crowe brokers a $250,000 sponsorship deal between South Sydney and the producers of his new film, Cinderella Man. September 17, 2005: Crowe and businessman Peter Holmes a Court launch a multimillion-dollar takeover bid for Souths. November 5, 2005: Holmes a Court reveals a bold $7.5 million proposal to unite South Sydney juniors and the senior football club. Holmes a Court and Crowe plan to become the main financial backers of the club.

November 18, 2005: Holmes a Court reveals that he and Crowe would bid for a 75 per cent share of the South Sydney Football Club. January 5, 2006: South Sydney's nine-man board vote unanimously to endorse Crowe and Holmes a Court's ownership offer. February 2, 2006: A group of South Sydney legends, headed by Bob McCarthy and John Sattler, sign a petition demanding the club quash Crowe and Holmes a Court's bid. February 9, 2006: South Sydney's board vote 6-3 to put the bid to members. February 12, 2006: Crowe and Holmes a Court explain their plans for South Sydney at a meeting of 1200 supporters. March 16, 2006: South Sydney juniors boss Henry Morris says Souths should not be sold off for $3 million. "I think we're worth about $30 million – not $3 million," he said.

March 19, 2006: South Sydney members vote yes to Crowe and Holmes a Court's proposal to privatise the iconic club. The proposal requires 75 per cent support and scrapes in by just 32 votes. March 22, 2006: Crowe says repairs to the club's dilapidated training venue at Erskineville Oval will be his main priority as co-owner. June 7, 2006: Holmes a Court and Crowe officially take charge. July 25, 2006: South Sydney sack outspoken centre Adam MacDougall after Holmes a Court says he does not "fit the culture of the club". MacDougall is told to "go work on his sun tan". MacDougall later tells The Footy Show that Crowe had taken him aside at training sessions and offered him advice on how to play. February 28, 2007: Holmes a Court and Crowe officially take over South Sydney Leagues Club, announcing refurbishment worth $10 million to $15 million.

June 3, 2007: Crowe and fellow actor Anthony LaPaglia discuss plans to develop a 25,000-seat stadium for use by the Rabbitohs and Sydney FC. June 20, 2007: Sydney Roosters chairman Nick Politis brands Craig Wing a "show pony" for allowing himself to be paraded at a news conference in front of Souths' sponsors while sitting alongside Holmes a Court. October 23, 2007: Crowe appears on prime-time television in the United States during an ESPN Monday-night football match to tell viewers of his passion for the Rabbitohs. Crowe promotes a Souths trial match against Leeds at Hodges Stadium in Florida set down for January 26, 2008. March 13, 2008: South Sydney announce a three-year, $3.5million sponsorship deal with National Australia Bank. Crowe helped secure the sponsorship. May 4, 2008: The return of Crowe, who has taken a break from work in the US, coincides with the Rabbitohs' first victory of the season, a 28-24 defeat of North Queensland at ANZ Stadium.

May 26, 2008: Crowe dumps Holmes a Court as chairman. Former chairman Nick Pappas is reappointed and former premiership-winning coach John Lang is brought in as football consultant to help embattled coach Jason Taylor. July 7, 2008: Crowe says rugby league is the "poor cousin" of Australian sport because of the relative value of television-rights deals. He is critical of the NRL's $500million deal over six years, compared with AFL's $780 million over five years. "We've got the greatest TV game but we're in the situation where we're the poor cousin when it comes to money and that's not good," he says. December 15, 2008: Crowe delivers a sobering Christmas message to football club members, saying, "I won't be able to put the type of cash I've had to put into Souths so far forever." March 12, 2009: State of Play, a movie starring Crowe, becomes South Sydney's sleeve sponsor for the first 11 rounds of the premiership. September 7, 2009: South Sydney officials investigate an altercation between coach Jason Taylor and departing Kiwi international David Fa'alogo at a hotel. Crowe accepts responsibility for the incident and apologises to Souths fans and sponsors. Rabbitohs officials Shane Richardson and Nick Pappas meet with Crowe at his Nana Glen property to discuss Taylor's future. The axe falls on September 17 and John Lang immediately replaces Taylor.

November 7, 2010: Mining billionaire Andrew Forrest is reported to be supporting a bid by Crowe and boxer Anthony Mundine to lure Greg Inglis to South Sydney. November 16, 2010: Crowe discusses the Inglis deal on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno in the US. December 13, 2010: US TV queen Oprah Winfrey becomes the latest A-lister to offer her support to South Sydney when she dons a Rabbitohs cap on the Sydney leg of an Australian tour. Crowe appears on her show and discusses his passion for the club before a global audience of several hundred million viewers. January 28, 2011: Crowe announces a three-year main sponsorship deal with Star City. May 25, 2011: Crowe helps broker a deal for the opening State of Origin match at Suncorp Stadium to be made available to 40 million pay TV viewers in the US.

May 10, 2012: Crowe implores Inglis to sign with the club for life. "Greg Inglis is more than just a footballer," Crowe says. "For Souths fans and members, he is an inspiration. I hope he stays a Rabbitoh and gets his name all over our record books." November 18, 2012: Crowe says he will sell his 37.5 per cent share of the club by the end of 2013, citing personal reasons. Club members are given first option to buy his share. May 14, 2013: Crowe convinces close friend James Packer to sponsor South Sydney. Crown casino will be on the front of the jerseys from next season. Crowe meets Packer at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence in Redfern to confirm the sponsorship arrangement after two weeks of private talks. July 7, 2013: Crowe tells Rabbitohs management he is committed "long term" and won't walk away even if Souths win the grand final. September 26, 2014: South Sydney defeat the Sydney Roosters 32-22 to qualify for the club's first grand-final appearance since 1971.

Something tells me this story is far from over. To be continued ... Phil Gould is the general manager of the Penrith Panthers