Dragon shirt worth a million
By Dean Ritchie
February 16, 2004
THE only two NRL clubs to have won trophies this season - St George Illawarra and the Wests Tigers - amazingly remain without a major sponsor just 25 days before the NRL season starts.
St George Illawarra believe they can attract offers of $1 million a year to sponsor one of rugby league's most famous and traditional jumpers.
Wests Tigers are more conservative, looking at selling the front of their jumper for about $600,000 a season.
St George Illawarra grabbed the season's second piece of silverware with a 34-8 hammering of South Sydney in the annual Charity Shield match before more than 21,000 fans at Aussie Stadium on Saturday night.
The Wests Tigers pinched the World Sevens trophy a fortnight before.
St George Illawarra are searching after Integral Energy withdrew after four years as major sponsor.
"These things take some time - this is the time of year when companies are doing their budgets for 2004 and 2005," said Dragons chief executive Peter Doust.
"We hope to have something in place by the kick-off of the premiership. We're looking for a longterm partner.
"The Dragons have only had three sponsors in our history - Penfolds, Newmans Motors and Integral.
"We believe as a club we should be at the forefront of the game - the Dragons' jumper is an icon of Australian sport.
"We're looking for premium dollars - we're not going to give away the jumper cheap. Corporations are looking at the game again so we see it is an opportunity, not a problem."
NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley said his organisation was unconcerned at the vacant Dragons jumper.
"They are looking for a satisfactory deal they think they can attract," Annesley said.
"The club knows what funds they need to run a team. It's not something we get involved in.
"We can understand clubs taking their time to ensure they get maximum value."
Wests Tigers have had four sponsors in four years -Meriton, Don's Smallgoods, New Loan and Raddison Maine.
"The exciting thing is that rugby league is on a positive and the Wests Tigers are on a positive," said Wests Tigers chief executive Steve Noyce.
"It is well known we have had four sponsors in four years. It would be good to get someone on board for a couple of years.
"We'll certainly have something in place before the start of the season."
The Dragons were highly impressive against Souths with five-eighth Trent Barrett returning successfully after a 10-month layoff due to a chronic foot injury.
Barrett only played 40 minutes but hurt the Rabbitohs, who were disappointing.
Souths were stung before kickoff when new recruits Adam MacDougall and Terry Hill withdrew due to a virus.
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA 34 (M Cooper, T Barrett, H Perenara, N Blacklock, S Timmins, B Creagh tries; L Russell 4, M Riddell goals) SOUTH SYDNEY 8 (S Rigon, L Hookey tries) at Aussie Stadium.
The Daily Telegraph
