NRL gives Warriors big sponsor boost
The Warriors have been given permission by the NRL to negotiate a new naming rights sponsorship deal with Vodafone.
In 2020 the club was informed it had to cut ties with Vodafone at the end of that season, because of a telecommunications exclusivity deal Telstra had as the NRL’s main sponsor.
At that time the Warriors were at the beginning of their period being stuck in Australia and there was huge public support for the team from league fans across the Tasman.
Eventually the NRL and Telstra bowed to public pressure and allowed the Warriors to see out the remainder of their current deal with Vodafone.
However, the club was told at the time that when this deal finished, at the end of the 2022 season, it would need to find a different naming rights sponsor, and one that’s not a telecommunications company.
However, Warriors CEO Cameron George says the club has been able to change the NRL’s view on this and will be allowed to sign a new deal with Vodafone.
‘‘We have been given permission,’’ George said.
‘‘We’ve negotiated through the NRL and Telstra that the partnership can continue and we’re very grateful for the opportunity to continue our partnership with Vodafone.’’
It was reported that Vodafone paid the Warriors $1 million a season in their last naming rights deal.
The Warriors are now free to negotiate a new contract with Vodafone, but before those talks could begin, the club needed to seek approval from the NRL.
‘‘. . . we’re grateful and excited and we’re having those discussions with Vodafone now.’’
Vodafone has sponsored the Warriors for the past 24 years. The club’s jersey sponsor prior to that was DB Bitter beer.
George praised the commitment Vodafone had shown to the Warriors since 1999.
‘‘It’s been critical that they have stuck so solid with us during the tough times and they’ve demonstrated all of the key values of their organisation, led by Jason Paris,’’ George said. ‘‘They are loyal to their word. They are there for you in the hard times and they don’t leave you.
‘‘That’s exactly what they’ve done for us, they’ve led the way for all of our sponsors.’’ The NRL’s current deal with Telstra concludes at the end of this season and there has been no news on whether this sponsorship arrangement which has been going since 2001 will continue.
However, the fact that Telstra was involved in talks with the Warriors over Vodafone, suggests that relationship will continue.
George said it wasn’t a straightforward process to get agreement about Vodafone, but talks were done in good faith.
‘‘Certainly there was a lot of discussion done back and forth and it was done respectfully,’’ George said.
‘‘Jason Paris has got a lot of credibility in that industry and I’m sure that stood us in good stead. Telstra in Australia and Vodafone under the leadership of Jason are respectful of each other’s role the sport and vice versa.
‘‘Everyone played a role in the outcome. It took a long time, but we’re very thankful to both the NRL and Telstra to allow us to continue this partnership.’’