Warriors promise $100k a season to ARL

Warriors owner Mark Robinson and chairman Rob Croot are committed to giving $100,000 a season to Auckland Rugby League for each of the next five years.

Robinson took complete control of the Warriors a few months ago, buying out Carlaw Heritage Trust’s majority share.

The trust, which is an arm of the ARL, lost around $3 million during its brief ownership of the Warriors, with the local clubs agreeing to sell their share, rather than commit more money to the Warriors.

The trust and Robinson paid an over-the-top price of $16m to Eric Watson for the Warriors, but when the trust, Robinson and Croot, through their company Autex Industries, agreed they could no longer work together, an offer was put on the table where they could buy each other out at a more realistic valuation of the club.

It was a messy saga that ate into the resources of the ARL and came at a time when local clubs are struggling to make ends meet.

Croot and Robinson have a long association with the grassroots of the game, so decided they wanted to give something back.

‘‘Mark and Rob Croot have organised off their own back that over the next five years they’ll pay $100,000 to Auckland Rugby League as a sponsorship deal,’’ Warriors chief executive Cameron George said.

‘‘We haven’t taken the game away from the locals, we might have changed ownership that took Auckland Rugby League out, but that allows them to focus on their core business.

‘‘Our game is attached to the local league and the financial contribution of Rob and Mark’s back is to show that.

‘‘Not only that, but we give 350 tickets for each home game to

Auckland Rugby League to distribute.’’

Croot and Robinson are highly successful businessmen, but they have shown another side to them by making this offer to the ARL.

‘‘Auckland Rugby League only lost money because Cameron McGregor [former chairman of the trust] paid too much for the club,’’ Robinson said.

‘‘But I think it’s only fair for us to build a proper relationship with the right people in there and I think $100,000 is a good gesture to start.

‘‘But if this club goes really well and they get people into this place, eventually I would like to be in a position where we can help them a bit more over the next 10 years.

‘‘If we do well, they do well. So if they help make us successful, it will benefit them in the long run.’’

■ As they sweat on Warriors target David Fifita’s future, Brisbane have confirmed they have re-signed fellow young gun Kotoni Staggs for another NRL season.

The Broncos received a shot in the arm as they waited on the indemand Fifita’s next move, snapping up Tongan international Staggs until the end of the 2021 season.

All eyes had been on Fifita, after it emerged four rival clubs were in the race for the 19-year-old, who is off-contract in 2020.

Fifita reportedly received lucrative offers from 12 clubs, but it is believed to have been narrowed down to Gold Coast, Canterbury, the Roosters and the Warriors.