New Zealand Warriors set to lose million-dollar sponsors

New Zealand Warriors’ sponsorship deal with Vodafone could be at end, reports the NZ Herald. 

The squad are currently relocated in Terrigal on the New South Wales Central Coast, more than 2,200 kilometres from Auckland, to help complete the 2020 NRL season and are now set to lose a million-dollar sponsorship deal in 2021.

Vodafone has sponsored the New Zealand Warriors for the last 22 years – with two more still on their current contract – but due to a telecommunications exclusivity clause in favour of Telstra, the NRL’s major sponsor, the partnership looks to be at an end.

The NZ Herald reported that Vodafone will walk away from their deal if they cannot remain naming rights with the club.

The NRL’s acting chief executive Andrew Abdo told the NZ Herald the situation was “unfortunate”.

“Telstra has been the naming rights partner of the premiership for a long period of time and invest significantly in the game,” he said.

“All clubs benefit from this investment.”

“It’s unfortunate that the Warriors and Vodafone have not been able to come up with a mutually beneficial solution, despite the NRL working closely on potential options to try and retain Vodafone as a partner for the Warriors.”