Hollywood star and South Sydney co-owner Russell Crowe believes the NRL is being shortchanged by an unfair television deal compared to other codes.Crowe, who attended the Rabbitohs' win over the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium on Monday night, said he felt the league was ''the poor cousin'' in Australian sport.

Rugby league's television deal is worth around $500million over six years, compared to the AFL's which is worth $780million over five years.

''I just don't think the game is balanced correctly with how the money the game can generate is divided,'' Crowe said yesterday.

''The TV deal we have based on the figures of who watches the game I don't think it's fair in comparison to what [the] AFL can generate or other sports. We've got the greatest TV game but we're in the situation where we're the poor cousin when it comes to money and that's not good.''

Crowe said the NRL must negotiate a better deal when the current one expired in 2012.

On Monday night, the Rabbitohs completed a four-match winning streak for the first time since 1994.

Crowe said it showed that the players' spirits had never dipped despite a poor start to the season.

He denied there had been a fallout between him and fellow club owner Peter Holmes a Court, although he said he asked his colleague to stand aside as chief executive for the good of the club.

Holmes a Court is now on a two-month break and his future at Souths is uncertain with Nicholas Pappas and Shane Richardson assuming the day-to-day running of the club. AAP