SYDNEY, Australia (AP) - Russell Crowe has been accused by an Australian rugby league coach of trying to lure several players to South Sydney, a team the actor avidly supports.
Chris Anderson, coach of the Sharks team, said the star of "A Beautiful Mind," who has no formal links with South Sydney, is breaking the rugby league's anti-tampering laws by trying to lure Preston Campbell, the National Rugby League player of the year, from the Sharks to South Sydney.
Clubs are forbidden from making offers to players until after June 30. But Anderson said Monday that Crowe also has been talking to St. George-Illawarra player Nathan Blacklock.
"I heard two weeks ago that Russell Crowe was ringing Preston and Blacklock trying to get them to go to Souths," Anderson said. "If that is the case, it's absolutely wrong."
But Anderson admitted that it was hard to do anything because Crowe is essentially a fan, not a club official.
"The rules are in place to stop offers like that but clubs can just say they know nothing about it. That's the problem with these anti-tampering laws — it's hard to enforce them."
South Sydney was readmitted to the league this year after being kicked out 18 months ago, when the league said it was among several franchises that were not financially viable.
Chris Anderson, coach of the Sharks team, said the star of "A Beautiful Mind," who has no formal links with South Sydney, is breaking the rugby league's anti-tampering laws by trying to lure Preston Campbell, the National Rugby League player of the year, from the Sharks to South Sydney.
Clubs are forbidden from making offers to players until after June 30. But Anderson said Monday that Crowe also has been talking to St. George-Illawarra player Nathan Blacklock.
"I heard two weeks ago that Russell Crowe was ringing Preston and Blacklock trying to get them to go to Souths," Anderson said. "If that is the case, it's absolutely wrong."
But Anderson admitted that it was hard to do anything because Crowe is essentially a fan, not a club official.
"The rules are in place to stop offers like that but clubs can just say they know nothing about it. That's the problem with these anti-tampering laws — it's hard to enforce them."
South Sydney was readmitted to the league this year after being kicked out 18 months ago, when the league said it was among several franchises that were not financially viable.
