Russell Crowe and Sam Burgess share a joke after the NRL Grand Final victory in October © Getty Images

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Hollywood actor Russell Crowe says Sam Burgess should have been fast-tracked into the England team despite the indifferent start to his union career.

In 2009 Crowe persuaded his close friend Burgess to leave Bradford Bulls for the South Sydney Rabbitohs - the club co-owned by the New Zealand-born star.

Burgess' move met a scripted ending last October when the rugby league club won their first league title for 43 years.

'The Bath shirt is kinda s***y!'

Sam Burgess switched codes to sign for Bath in October © Getty Images

• Sam Burgess is regularly approached after Bath games by South Sydney Rabbitohs fans seeking an autograph for their jerseys - and Hollywood actor Russell Crowe has his own thoughts on why this is happening even in England.
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Since switching codes, Burgess has been unable to impose himself in the same way for Bath and endured a disappointing evening against the Irish Wolfhounds on his debut for England Saxons last month.

A brief spell training with Stuart Lancaster's Six Nations squad has been the 26-year-old's only senior involvement, but Crowe believes it is only a matter of time before he makes his presence felt.

"Never bet against Sam Burgess when faced with a challenge, that's what I'd say. Sam is a fine young man and is just going to get better," Crowe said at a private viewing in central London of his directorial debut The Water Diviner.

"If I was anything to do with English rugby union, I'd just select him in my squad because he's a very fast learner.

"You want your top 30 athletes representing the country and he has to be among the top 30 athletes in rugby union right now."

Burgess' place in South Sydney folklore is secure after playing through the pain barrier to help defeat the Canterbury Bulldogs in last year's NRL final.

Just six seconds into the game he shattered his eye socket during an injury that later needed five metal plates to repair the damage to his cheekbone, yet he still finished as man of the match.

Crowe insists that if Burgess' union career does not work out, he is welcome back at the Rabbitohs.

"Sam is a son of South Sydney. He's a South Sydney warrior. There is absolutely no way to remove our club from his heart, or him from our hearts," Crowe said.

Crowe and Burgess will attend Sunday night's World Club Challenge when South Sydney face Super League champions St Helens at Langtree Park.