Russell Crow, the Gladiator, has a Greek hero. Being a fan of the Rabbitohs, Mr. Crowe said that his hero is none other than the team’s lawyer Nick Pappas. “Quite simply, I love the bloke,” said Mr. Crowe. “We share a long-held boyhood dream to make our team mean something the people of our district, the fans and the members can be proud of. A team who can inspire all types of ambitions in the kids who look up to our players.We’ve often said a strong South Sydney club means not just more football players or sportspeople but more doctors, lawyers and artists will rise from our fan base of kids as they grow because they have been given the true example that hard work and belief does in fact have its rewards.”

Mr. Pappas is the daring lawyer who took on the Murdoch empire after the South Sydney Rabbitohs were kicked out of the NRL on October 15, 1999. Not only did he do the unthinkable, but he actually won both the case and the great movie star’s adulation. Mr. Crowe says that the Greek lawyer does everything with class and determination.

In other cases also, such as being a key figure in the establishment of the independent commission that took control of the game in 2012. To Rabbitohs fans he is greatly responsible for the way the team has been shaped.

“Just a couple of weeks ago I was in the corridor of ANZ stadium, and so was Nick. As we were talking I looked at the faces of his children and it occurred to me what an amazing example of tenacity, fortitude and courage he is for his kids. I emailed him that night and confessed to him that he is a hero of mine.Nick Pappas is an inspirational man for all the best reasons.”