The NRL is facing a public relations disaster, with its reported decision to force the NZ Warriors out of a long-term sponsorship relationship with Vodafone, shocking one of the games biggest names.
NZME reported on Monday that the competitions naming rights sponsor, and rival telco Telstra, wants Vodafone out, potentially ending a 22-year relationship between club and brand.
New Warriors consultant Phil Gould says the "bold call" from the league has angered the club and could cause major conflict within the competition, with rival clubs likely to back the Warriors position.
Should the Warriors be forced to end its relationship with Vodafone, it would cost the club more than NZ$1 million per season.
"No one is happy," Gould told Nine's 100% Footy.
"I think there's been something that has changed in the deal between Telstra and the NRL and I think this is something that was inserted in the contract a couple of years ago and I think Telstra started to push to the envelope on the demands from the NRL, so the NRL had to concede to that.
"I don't know the exact nature of the contracts and the obligations. "What I do know is 'club land', all clubs are looking for sponsors, we're all looking for extra money and one of the big things was obviously telcos, gambling houses and car dealers, but the NRL has its policy that if they have their own personal sponsor, you cannot have a sponsor that conflicts with them.
"So a club cannot go out and get a sponsor that conflicts with anything the NRL have gone out and sold for themselves.
"The Vodafone Warriors were always given exemption because they had it long before Telstra came around.
"The Warriors had always been given a pass, but none of the clubs could contract a sponsor that was seen to be in conflict with the NRL.
"I find this as potentially a PR disaster and I'm very interested to see how it goes."
The Warriors and Vodafone inked a two-year extension to their relationship in May, which appears to have triggered Telstra's push to force the NRL's hand.
The situation has been described as "unfortunate" by acting NRL CEO Andrew Abdo.
"Telstra has been the naming rights partner of the premiership for a long period of time and invested significantly in the game," Abdo told NZME.
"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."
Sydney Morning Herald columnist Andrew Webster says the whole situation reeks of "madness", particularly given the personal sacrifices Warriors players have been forced to make in a COVID-19 ravaged 2020.
A Vodafone representative told NZME it was "gutted" it has to end such a productive partnership with the club and sport of rugby league.
"The Warriors have been advised their naming rights deal with us is in conflict with the game-wide rights of Telstra.
"The NRL aren’t going to grant an exemption beyond the current season. All they offered was a derisory non-naming rights option as an alternative.
"We’re gutted - the NRL has told us our name isn’t welcome. This feels like another example of the Warriors getting the rough end of the stick."
The club is yet to officially comment on the matter.
