A development of some sorts:
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...p-from-tony-sage/story-e6frexnr-1226273233326
THE cash-strapped Sharks insist they won't be relocating to West Australia despite approaching Perth billionaire Tony Sage for a $2 million, two-year sponsorship.
After reading about Sage's interest in a NRL Perth franchise, Sharks chairman Damian Irvine will contact Sage to discuss becoming Cronulla's major sponsor for next two years.
Irvine said he would hope to educate Sage, the former Shire schoolboy, in running an NRL club before the Sharks would then support a Perth entry into the NRL for 2015.
Sage lived for three years in the Shire, playing rugby league at Port Hacking High School.
With Cronulla still without a major sponsor (worth about $875,000 a year), Irvine hopes Sage taps into his $800 million wealth.
"If he starts a new club in Perth, Tony could use some expertise and we could build some club synergies," Irvine told The Daily Telegraph.
"But this is in no way a fore-runner for us relocating to Perth that won't happen."
Perth is a front-runner in the expansion race, followed by Ipswich and then Gosford.
Sage was unavailable yesterday but Perth consortium partner Ben Elias said: "If Tony supports Cronulla then fantastic.
"We are certainly genuine in our endeavour to field a Perth NRL side and we appreciate Cronulla's support."
