Australian cricket's top physiotherapist couldn't say no to Russell Crowe.

Sydney-based actor Crowe and his business partner, Peter Holmes a Court, officially took over ownership of the struggling South Sydney Rabbitohs franchise in the National Rugby League on Thursday.
One of their first announcements was that Earl Alcott, head physio for the Australian cricket team for 22 years, would join the rugby league club and be responsible for physical performance and rehabilitation.

The last-place Rabbitohs are struggling on the field, losers of all 12 matches this season.

But Alcott, a veteran of 10 Ashes cricket series, said he wanted a challenge and had been lured by Holmes a Court and Crowe's plans for the club.

Alcott was part of the backroom staff that took Australian cricket from the doldrums in the 1980s to more recent dominance. He said he hoped to repeat the feat with his new employers.

"It's the vision and that's what the brief is," Alcott said. "That's certainly my mind-set anyway and that's how I'm starting my slate with the Rabbitohs."