The Warriors have come under fire from a number of angles after their disappointing play of late, and film star Russell Crowe is the latest to take aim at the embattled club.
Speaking from the red carpet at the premiere of his new film The Mummy on Tuesday night, Crowe took the opportunity to offer a few thoughts of his own on the team and its recent struggles, particularly those of hooker Issac Luke.
The Gladiator star's relationship with the Kiwi veteran extends back to 2014 when he was one of the star players on the NRL premiership-winning South Sydney Rabbitohs, a club which Crowe himself co-owns.
"I actually sent a text the other day to Issac [Luke]," the 53-year-old told Newshub.
"You'll probably hate me for saying this, but I was saying to Issac – it's time for you to be a leader, man.
"Because he's got a massive rugby brain, he knows exactly what he sees, and he should stop playing Marcel Marceau, talk up and start leading."
Many Warriors fans would view Crowe's criticisms as valid, with Luke never quite displaying the kind of form which had him as arguably the game's best at his position during his final year with the Rabbitohs.
The side is also desperate for a clear and vocal leader, Luke seemingly reluctant to assume that mantle.
"You've got such a good team there, seriously the spine of that team is just world class," said Crowe, referring to the combination of Kiwis players Kieran Foran, Shaun Johnson, and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.
Meanwhile Crowe's beloved Rabbitohs have a few problems of their own to consider, currently sitting just one spot above the Auckland-based side at 13th on the NRL ladder.
The Warriors will look to avoid a third straight defeat when they take on the Brisbane Broncos in Auckland on Saturday night.
Newshub.
