South Sydney owner Russell Crowe is urging NRL executives to consider ex-Rabbitoh Shane Richardson as the next chief executive.
The sport star was not tipped to be on the initial list of likely candidates to replace Todd Greenberg after he left the Rabbitohs last month, however he has had experience in working for the league when he filled in for the role as head of strategy and game development in 2015.
Richardson also has 20 years of experience being an administrator, along with stints at Cronulla and Penrith. “There’s no better candidate available for the job. Simple fact,” Crowe explained to The Daily Telegraph.
“None of the other candidates can match his time in the sport. His bloodlines go right through the game – NSW and Queensland.”
The Australian actor went on to push for the NRL to have a rugby league person in the top position.
Richardson is so far the only high-profile star to leave the game during the coronavirus hiatus, claiming he walked away to save money for the Rabbitohs.
However, there is suspicion as to why he split the game and the former NSW State of Origin half Braith Anasta criticised Richardson’s exit.
He went on to criticise whether the Rabbitoh’s supremo had taken a pay out and on Tuesday said there were many not supportive of his exit.
“We all know what I thought of Shane’s exit from Souths,” Anasta told Fox League Live.
“At the time he didn’t answer that question – if he had a job lined up at the NRL … which meant he was going for it.
“Shane has a lot of enemies in the game, and I know that just from the feedback I received after I spoke about his exit at Souths. I just can’t see it working.”
Stand-in chief executive Andrew Abdo continued to be the front runner to keep the job, while Souths CEO Blake Solly has already said he is not interested.
