Sydney Roosters stars including former halfback Mitchell Pearce, retired skipper Boyd Cordner and even club supremo Nick Politis have all been immortalised in Hollwood – and they were completely unaware.
The Chooks are currently in the United States preparing for their historic clash against the Brisbane Broncos at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and they just found out the club has been featured in Hollywood movies and television shows for years.
Former Sydney resident Josh Brandon invited Roosters players to his Los Angeles home last week for a barbecue, where the Tricolours super-fan revealed his sneaky references.
Film maker Josh Brandon (pictured with his Back to the Future-inspired DeLorean) is a huge fan of the Sydney Roosters and has snuck references to star players into his films and movies
The Roosters are currently in the United States ahead of the NRL season opener against the Brisbane Broncos and learned the truth when they visited Brandon’s home in Los Angeles
On of the best was the reference to Politis. A hard-nosed character from the movie Bad Tenant shared his name, leaving the Roosters players in stitches.
‘Mr Politis isn’t a man to be messed with, son,’ a man says while standing over the top of a character he had just attacked in the film.
‘You’ve got two days or you’re done for, mate. Two days.’
Other references included Pearce as a character in the Fox drama Houdini & Doyle, a tribute to former captain Boyd Cordner on the SyFy Network’s Haven show and even a character named after coach Trent Robinson in the movie Valentine’s Town.
A standover man in one of Brandon’s films talks about a ‘Mr Politis’ (pictured) and how people shouldn’t get on his bad side, in a reference to Roosters chairman Nick Politis
A character from Fox drama Houdini & Doyle (pictured) references Mitchell Pearce, who is also the former premiership-winning halfback of the Roosters
A reference to Roosters player Sitili Tupouniua is seen in one of Brandon’s many television shows and movies
Veteran Sydney Roosters outside back Michael Jennings also got a tribute in one of Brandon’s works (pictured)
Other past and present players to be featured in Brandon’s work include Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Michael Jennings, Luke Keary, Mitch Aubusson, Angus Crichton, Sitili Tupouniua, Daniel Tupou, Brett Morris, Joey Manu and Lindsay Collins.
Even NRLW star Isabelle Kelly and life member Cathy King get a mention.
‘My family have always been Roosters fans,’ Brandon, who also co-wrote William Shatner‘s book Boldly Go, told the Sydney Morning Herald.
‘My dad and my grandfather always took me to games and we bonded over our love for the Roosters.
‘I’ve been back to every grand final, I flew to England for the World Club Challenge. I’ve even converted my wife into a Roosters fan and she’s an American.’
It is not the first time that the NRL has been linked to the US entertainment industry.
Three-time Academy Award winning actor Russell Crowe is the NRL’s strongest link to Hollywood movies
After a stellar career in rugby league, Ian Roberts turned his attention to acting and has played many roles over the years
The NRL‘s most famous connection to Hollywood is undoubtedly three-time Academy Award-winning actor Russell Crowe, who is also part owner of the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
But there have been many other links between the Aussie football code and the silver screen over the years.
Former Manly, South Sydney and North Queensland hard man Ian Roberts has also notched up an impressive resume in Hollywood.
Former footy player and Aussie actor and television presenter Matt Nable has appeared in a number of television shows and Hollywood movies
Footy fans were curious to learn why Hollywood star John Cusack wore a battered old Australian Kangaroos jersey in his 1985 film The Sure Thing (pictured)
He has secured roles in movies like Red Dust alongside Hilary Swank, Disgrace with John Malkovich and Gods of Egypt with Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.
Most recently he has starred in the spoof sci-fi television show The Adventures of the West Bros which is inspired by the filmmaking techniques used between 1930 and 1950.
Former Manly and South Sydney star Matt Nable, who also works for broadcaster Fox Sports, has also established a strong acting resume.
On top of his iconic role as Grub in footy film The Final Winter, Nable has also appeared alongside Robert De Niro, Clive Owen and Jason Statham in the 2011 film Killer Elite and with Vin Diesel in the 2013 sci-fi thriller Riddick.
Queensland actor Ben Lawson managed to get the wardrobe department to buy him a Maroons State of Origin jersey to wear in the television series Firefly Lane
Lawson also wore this retro North Queensland Cowboys jersey from 1995 on the hit show
Former Neighbours actor Ben Lawson also managed to sneak a bit of rugby league folklore into Hollywood during his star turn on the highly acclaimed Netflix show Firefly Lane.
He successfully got the costume and wardrobe department to purchase a vintage Queensland Maroons jersey which he wore on the show. He also appeared wearing a retro North Queensland Cowboys NRL strip.
And who could forget the wild time that American actor John Cusack wore an Australian Kangaroos jersey in the 1985 Hollywood film The Sure Thing.
Cusack wore the jersey three times during the movie, but claimed it was just a random wardrobe choice. More like a footy fan like Brandon set him up.