One time rugby league bad boy Michael Crocker says his UK visa knock-back sends a warning to would-be NRL troublemakers that their actions do have consequences.

Crocker confirmed on Friday he would join South Sydney on a long-term deal and return to the Sydney rugby league fishbowl where he pleaded guilty to affray in 2006.

That misdemeanour is thought to behind the decision to deny him a working visa for the UK, where a three-year deal with Hull has fallen through.

A crackdown has also meant Todd Carney, Greg Eastwood and Greg Bird have run into visa problems and been unable to take up offers to play in England.

Crocker has signed with Souths until the end of 2012 and the 28-year-old said his three years in Melbourne had made him older and wiser.

"Obviously there was a lot of reasons why I wanted to go to England, most of them are personal," he told reporters at Redfern Oval.

"But I think that if we can take anything out of this, it's that kids these days need to learn a lesson that every action has a consequence and one bad decision I made that ended up in a minor offence a few years ago has cost me that opportunity."

Crocker was arrested after a drunken brawl outside Coogee's Beach Palace Hotel in March 2005, when he was a Sydney Roosters player.

He was fined $700 in January 2006 before beginning his first season with the Storm, a stint which yielded three straight grand final appearances and a premiership.

"I think I've learned a lot down in my time in Melbourne, I'm a lot older and hopefully a lot wiser," he said.

"I was a senior player at Melbourne and a leader so I need to ... continue that here."

Crocker, who will be available to play for Souths against the Wests Tigers at the SCG on Sunday week, said his fitness was good and he was available for the Queensland State of Origin side this year if needed.

"Obviously my body's fresh and I've been training a fair bit with Melbourne since January so I'm feeling, if not the best in my career, up there with it," he said.

"Definitely I'd love to play rep footy. I'm not going to say that I'm not thinking about it because everyone wants to play State of Origin and for their country so it's definitely in the back of my mind."

Crocker revealed Souths had played their recruitment ace in negotiations - a motivational phone call from co-owner Russell Crowe.

"I got a couple of phone calls off Russell, obviously he's a good man to speak to," he said.

"He actually spoke about horses. My wife's favourite childhood movie was one of Russell's first movies (The Silver Brumby) so they had a good chat about that."

Coach Jason Taylor said Crocker, who has played 10 Origins, six Tests and five grand finals, was part of his plan for building a winning culture again at the Rabbitohs.

"We made some tough decisions coming into this season on the player roster and trying to fill the squad with players who have the attitude that we're looking for, hard working and no rubbish in what they do, and Michael just slots straight into that," Taylor said.

"His record speaks for itself."

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