Crowe, famous for his role in Gladiator, is co-owner of South Sydney Rabbitohs, who were beaten 26-24 by Rhinos in the Australia Day Challenge in Jacksonville.

The actor was among the 12,000 crowd and mingled with Leeds players in Souths' locker room after the match and at the post-game party.

He described the visit of the engage Super League champions as "fantastic" and told the Yorkshire Evening Post he is a big fan of Great Britain duo Jamie Peacock and Keith Senior.

Click here to hear an exclusive interview with South co-owner and Hollywood superstar Russell Crowe in which he gives his thoughts on why the link up with Leeds is so crucial for Australian rugby league.

Said Crowe: "I know Jamie Peacock is a movie fan – and a great player.

"Keith Senior is one of the greatest names in the game and obviously there's a bunch of Kiwis in there and an Aussie too. It is an impressive side. I watched them in the Grand Final last year and there was never any question it was going to be their day.

"So I am very happy that our players have got the opportunity to meet players of that quality and hang out with them and learn a little bit about what it is to be a professional in the same game, just on the other side of the world."

Rhinos would be a competitive force in Australia's NRL, according to Crowe.

"They would hold their own, no doubt," he said.

Crowe reckons a Rhinos-Souths Carnegie World Club Challenge would be the ultimate achievement for the partnership.

He said: "When we get to the point where we earn the right to do that, that's a great day."

Saturday's game was the biggest event so far of the Souths-Rhinos partnership, which was launched last year and has been masterminded by Crowe.

Speaking of the unique relationship between Rhinos and Souths, Crowe said he is amazed other clubs haven't followed suit.

"It is a wonderful thing for us," he said. "Because it is a big organisation Leeds, and we can learn a lot from them in many different areas.

"One of the main things is swapping people at a corporate level, so taking young guys who are learning about what it's like to be in a sports club business and swapping them out with people from Leeds.

"The connection of the two clubs, given that this is the two strongholds of rugby league that exists in the world, it just seems it should have been done earlier.

"All our clubs in the NRL should be connected to a club in the English Super League, but I am very happy South Sydney and Leeds are leading the way."

Crowe added: "We aren't looking for anything tangible, other than swapping staff and learning a little bit.

"There's nothing bigger in there than that and actually getting our players to be able to hang out with the Leeds players and the osmosis that happens when a bunch of guys sit around in a room together to talk and share experiences.

"That is an important thing."

Despite the club's partnership and Crowe's Yorkshire connections – his wife is from the county – he insisted there were no divided loyalties at Saturday's game.

"No," he said. "Not at all. I have got family from Yorkshire in the crowd. My wife's uncle Peter is here and a few other blokes and it was good to catch up with them after the game."

Rhinos scrum-half Rob Burrow chatted with Crowe afterwards.

"I thought he was a fantastic bloke," said Burrow.

"If you knew nothing about movies you'd think he was just a normal rugby supporter.

"I was a bit taken aback by how laid-back he was and what a decent man he was.

"You expect really famous people to keep themselves to themselves, but he was just like any other guy.

"I felt really comfortable with him and it was great to be involved with somebody like that in the environment we work in."

Other famous faces included ex-basketball star Dennis Rodman, legendary boxing trainer Angelo Dundee, tennis legend Chris Evert and golfer Greg Norman.