Russell Crowe has publicly thanked outgoing NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian for her ‘tireless work’ the day after she shocked the nation by resigning.
The esteemed Australiana actor, who is focused on his South Sydney Rabbitohs team the day before the NRL Grand Final, took time to give Ms Berejiklian a glowing reference on Twitter.
Ms Berejiklian, 51, was at the helm in NSW through some of the state’s toughest times in living memory including the global pandemic, floods, drought and the 2019 ‘Black Summer’ bushfires that ‘absolutely smashed’ Crowe’s property near Coffs Harbour.
Russell Crowe, who is focused on his South Sydney Rabbitohs team the day before the NRL Grand Final, took time to give Gladys Berejiklian a glowing reference on social media
Crowe was one of many high profile people to pay tribute to Ms Berejiklian afterher shock resignation
‘Personally, I’d like to thank Gladys for her tireless work through a very difficult time,’ Mr Crowe tweeted on Friday. ‘What a tough job.’
‘Thanks for the effort you expended and the stress you endured. You led from the front. With perspective, history will define your tenure kindly.’
Mr Crowe’s sprawling 400-hectare property near Coffs Harbour was hit by bushfires when NSW endured ‘catastrophic’ fire conditions.
His home was saved by dedicated firefighters during the frightening fires.
Mr Crowe’s glowing reference was one of hundreds of tributes Ms Berejiklian received since she quit ahead of a corruption probe into her relationship with disgraced MP Daryl Maguire.
Mr Crowe’s property near Coffs Harbour was ‘absolutely smashed’ in the 2019 bushfires, one of many crises Ms Berejiklian guided NSW through. Crowe is pictured above chopping a tree that was blocking the path to his property after the fires
Russell’s Crowe’s sprawling mansion (pictured) near Coffs Harbour was hit by bushfire after NSW endured ‘catastrophic’ fire conditions
Crowe is set to watch the NRL Grand Final alongside his ‘special mate’ and ex Rabbitohs player Sam Burgess in Thailand on Sunday.
The pair are overseas working on a new movie together.
Father-of-two Mr Burgess, whose legendary performance led Souths to win the 2014 Grand Final, says he and Bunnies’ co-owner Mr Crowe are excited for the footy decider on Sunday and have even bought pies to eat at half-time.
Russell Crowe (left) and 2014 Grand Final hero Sam Burgess are together again for the 2021 NRL decider, but this time in Thailand
The Rabbitohs are set to meet the Penrith Panthers at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium despite initial fears the game could be postponed over a developing Covid outbreak in south east Queensland.
Queensland announced two new community-acquired Covid cases on Friday but the biggest league game of the year is still expected to go ahead.
‘Mate we’re going to be together, we’re obviously here in Thailand at the minute, we’ll be watching the game here, we’ve got pies ready for half-time,’ Mr Burgess told MG and Liam on Triple M’s The Rush Hour.
Getting away from it all: Sam Burgess has revealed he is in Thailand working with Russell Crowe on his new movie
‘Garlo’s pies,’ Burgess clarified. Garlo’s Pies is a family business partly run by former Souths player Sean Garlick.
The ex-league star joked that he was Mr Crowe’s spiritual adviser on the set of his new movie.
Mr Burgess explained that Crowe was ‘calm’ but ‘excited’ about the Grand Final and puts his faith in South’s Wayne Bennett, who has won the Grand Final a record seven times.
Burgess and Crowe share an embrace after South’s 2014 Grand Final win
‘He’s got a saying ‘in Wayne we trust’, it’s so true,’ Mr Burgess said.
The Panthers are currently the favourites for the Grand Final.
Crowe, who owns 37.5 per cent of the club, convinced Burgess to sign for Souths in 2009 after inviting Burgess and his mother Julie to the set of his film Robin Hood.
‘He’s a really special guy, I’m really happy for him and the club and everyone involved.’
The pair have remained close since Burgess’s early retirement from the game in 2019.
Burgess, still only 32, played 182 games for Souths and won the Clive Churchill Medal after playing with a broken cheekbone in the famous 2014 victory.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has been accused of avoiding a new lockdown in her state just so the Grand Final can go ahead this weekend.
Despite four new confirmed cases of Covid overnight the match is expected to be played in front of a 75 per cent capacity crowd of just under 40,000.