This story was originally published by Stuff.co.nz
The NRL and Australian telecommunications company Telstra have backed down from stopping Vodafone sponsoring the Warriors from next season.
The Warriors were in danger of losing the club's major long-term sponsor, because of a telecommunications exclusivity deal struck between Telstra and the NRL.
Through this arrangement the Warriors had been told they needed to look for a new naming rights sponsor for next season.
However, after a day of criticism towards Telstra and the NRL on both sides of the Tasman, in part due to the sacrifices the Warriors have made this year to keep the competition going, Telstra has backed down.
"Our sporting clubs are feeling the pinch right now and many, like the Warriors, have stepped up to support their fans and the game," Telstra said in a statement posted on Twitter.
"While our naming rights sponsorship is a big investment from us in the game and should be protected in the long term, now is not the time to be taking money out of the sport.
"Just as we've extended our sponsorships that were due to expire for 12 months to support our partners, the Warriors have our support to extend their existing sponsorship too."
Warriors CEO Cameron George told Stuff on Tuesday night he was grateful to the NRL and Telstra for reconsidering their stance.
"We had discussions with the NRL this afternoon and they were having their internal discussions with Telstra," George said.
"On the back of that, it wasn't until about 7pm that Telstra put out a statement that they were willing to support the continuation of Vodafone into the future.
"We're very appreciative of their position and reconsideration and equally to the NRL.
"We know that between the four parties, Telstra, NRL, us and Vodafone, that we can help the game be better and grow."
Vodafone began sponsoring the Warriors in 1998 and it's one of the longest sponsorship arrangements in professional sport around the world, bringing in over $1 million a season to the Warriors.
George said it's been a partnership that's been crucial for the club.
"It's been everything," he said.
"There are two things we measure our club on and that's the commercial we get through thick and thin and our fan base and they stick with us through thick and thin as well.
"Jason Paris (Vodafone NZ CEO) and the staff before him, they've been fantastic people to work with and they add so much value to the game of rugby league.
https://twitter.com/Telstra/status/1295615040800792576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"They're passionate about it, they want to see us succeed and we we're just so grateful to have a fantastic family of sponsors, led by Vodafone."
The current deal between Vodafone and the Warriors finishes at the end of the 2022 season.
It's unknown whether the NRL and Telstra would be willing to let it continue after that, but at least the club now has plenty of time to find a new major sponsor if they need to.
Given the uncertainty over where the Warriors will be based next year and the financial strain the coronavirus pandemic has put on companies, it would have been a nightmare for the Warriors to find a new sponsor for 2021.
from WWOS https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/new-zealand-warriors-vodafone-sponsorship-allowed-to-continue-despite-telstra-clash/82cce6be-266c-419c-ac47-263630ed08c2
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