RUSSELL TO THE RESCUE
Just days after news broke of Sam Burgess and wife Phoebe’s split, it emerged that Aussie actor Russell Crowe has been supporting them both through the tough time.
While Sam reportedly went straight to Russell’s farm in Nana Glen, it seems Phoebe, who gave birth to the couple’s second child in December, has also turned to the star in hopes he can help mediate with her now estranged husband.
“Russell thinks of Sam as family,” a friend close to the couple tells New Idea.
“But he has always had a soft spot for Phoebe – and now their children – too.”
It is believed that ever since Sam and Phoebe welcomed their first child, daughter Poppy, Russell – who was previously rumoured to have been dating Sam’s mother Julie – makes even more of an effort to spend time with the family whenever he is in Australia.
In fact, he was snapped taking a stroll with Phoebe and Poppy in Sydney back in 2017.
“There’s no doubt Russell will be heartbroken for Sam and Phoebe,” the source adds.
“He will do whatever he can to help.”
Sam left the couple’s marital home last week.
According to reports, the couple have suffered problems in their marriage for “quite some time”.
And while it’s been rumoured that Phoebe’s relationship with her mother-in-law went downhill after Sam was embroiled in a sexting scandal last year (which he was later cleared of), New Idea has been told that Phoebe and Julie have always clashed.
“Sam and his brothers (Thomas, Luke and George) are all Mummy’s boys,” a friend reveals.
“Julie is really protective of her sons and they are of her too, but that bond hasn’t always made it easy for the women the boys bring into their lives.
“For the girls, including Phoebe, it’s like they have to compete with Julie for their partner’s attention.”