Downer replaces Dick Smith as NRL Auckland Nines sponsor
Downer has taken over as naming rights sponsor for the 2016 NRL Auckland Nines, replacing Dick Smith, the electronics company which went into voluntary administration on January 5.
Duco chief executive Martin Snedden said a lot of hard work had taken place to finalise an agreement with the engineering and infrastructure group.
"The first day or so (after the voluntary administration news) was really about trying to assess what had happened and whether we felt that there was some possibility of continuing with Dick Smith," said Snedden.
"We made a judgment call after a short space of time that the best thing we could do was keep that option open, but also start to look for a replacement naming rights sponsor, so we initiated a number of discussions, and we actually got contacted by a number of parties who expressed interest in talking to us, so over the days that followed we had a number of conversations going.
"We fairly quickly decided that Downer was the best fit for us. It's a big company that operates in both Australia and New Zealand, which, given this is very much an Australasian event, was attractive to us, and the fact that it's a well-known company and a well-known brand."
Dick Smith had been in the third year of a five-year deal, but Snedden said the Downer sponsorship was only for this year's event - on February 6 and 7 at Eden Park.
"I think what that does, is it gives us and Downer an opportunity to get used to each other. After the event, I think both of us will look at it and I would anticipate some sort of discussion about possible sponsorship for the 2017 and 2018 Nines, but that's not something we're working on now, we're just concentrating on the 2016 event."
Snedden said fans and players would have noticed nothing had a replacement sponsor not been found.
"It was very much something about behind the scenes helping us with the financial stability of what it is that we're doing.
"Dick Smith, at the time it went into receivership, owed us some money. I can't say exactly what, for commercial reasons. The deal we've done with Downer has helped us with that, but far more importantly we've been able to quickly introduce a quality company into the Nines event.
"It's only a short term contract at the moment, but both parties hope that it goes well and we may well discuss a longer-term association fairly shortly after."
Downer chief executive Grant Fenn said he was thrilled with the partnership and the company was delighted to be associated with the event.
"We have a proud history and extensive operations in both Australia and New Zealand. It's sure to be a great weekend of footy."
The Nines event is in its third season, having been won by the North Queensland Cowboys and the South Sydney Rabbitohs in its first two years.
Melbourne Storm fullback Billy Slater has signalled he will make his Nines debut at this year's event, while Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson is also targeting the 2016 tournament for his comeback from the ankle injury which brought his 2015 NRL campaign to an early end.
