Titans sponsor to pull six-figure contract after Ryan James’ GF gaffe
The embattled Gold Coast Titans have been dealt another blow, with a long-time major sponsor moving to tear up its contract over captain
Ryan James’ grand final speech, which the company labelled “embarrassing” and “offensive”.
National construction and event hire giant TFH, which has been a Titans jersey sponsor and also has the naming rights for its high-performance training centre at Parkwood, has formally told the club the six-figure deal is off.
TFH is blaming the Titans’ dismal performance this year and skipper James’ “embarrassing” and “offensive” NRL grand final appearance, where the indigenous star failed to finish his Welcome to Country address, as a major reason for the termination.
TFH, which has sponsored the Titans since 2012, signed on as a principal backer last season in what was described as one of the NRL’s most lucrative sponsorships.
It’s understood the deal was renewed for next season, with Titans club gear and signage featuring the TFH logo approved.
But the company has moved to backflip on the deal in another blow for the Coast club, after a disastrous 2019 which included finishing with the wooden spoon and the sacking of coach Garth Brennan.
In a letter to the Titans, TFH director Brett Thomas said the company was terminating the sponsorship agreement “effective immediately”.
TFH said it was using its discretion under the sponsorship contract to terminate the deal due to “public comment and discussion surrounding the team’s performance, the performance of the coach and adverse discussions regarding the utilisation and selection of player talent”.
The company also blamed James’ bungled Welcome To Country speech at last week’s NRL grand final for its decision.
“The embarrassing performance of Ryan James in his speech last weekend was offensive and weighed heavily on this decision,” Thomas wrote.
“Additionally, the well documented doubts regarding the club’s future in 2020 was also relevantly considered …”
A Titans spokesman said a contract was in place with TFH but declined to comment further.
It’s understood the Titans will seek to enforce the contract and a legal showdown could be looming.
TFH has stuck by the club through crises including the 2015 drug scandal when star players were caught up in a major cocaine bust, the sacking of coaches Brennan and Neil Henry, the tumultuous Jarryd Hayne era, and the disasters of this season.
Announcing its upgraded sponsorship in 2017, Thomas said the club was “heading in the right direction”.
“We’re here for the long haul,” he said at the time.
“There’s a lot of stability and a good feel around the club. We were very close to signing (as a sponsor) for multiple years.”
TFH also sponsors the Manly Sea Eagles and the Cronulla Sharks and has supplied temporary fencing and barricades for events including the Melbourne Cup, 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, and major music festivals.
James called his grand final speech “the biggest stuff-up of all time” but was widely supported on social media.
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