NRL to turn down sponsorship deal

Manly is set to discuss a three-year deal with betting agency Betchoice, which could see up to $3 million go to the club as part of a naming rights agreement. The club are looking for a replacement sponsor after Delmege Commercial is to end its relationship with Manly at the end of the year. However, NRL’s ongoing deal with TAB Corp, which is worth more than $1 million a season, prohibits any club securing a naming rights sponsor from a rival betting company.

Sea Eagles chief executive, Grant Mayer, told News Ltd., that the ban will hurt the club.“It’s difficult to swallow”, he said. “It is hard if they take out gambling agencies when we are all struggling for a dollar. But we will continue to talk to Betchoice. There are other ways of getting their brand out there through retail items and signage’’.

Betchoice chief executive Mark Morrissey said that the company was extremely interested in the sponsorship deal. “We are in a mood to spend” he said. “We’re certainly big enough to take on Manly as a major sponsor. Sponsoring a rugby league club is about the highest profile sponsorship you can get in Australia – it is arguably Australia’s No.1 sport”.