Origin Brewery war

[DIEHARD]

VB sign canned but hard stuff still to come for ARL
BRAD WALTER

THE scene has been set for a hostile ARL board meeting in Brisbane tomorrow after NSW team sponsor VB was forced to forgo pitch signage for tonight's opening Origin match because of a deal between the Queensland Rugby League and rival brewer Lion Nathan.

The development, which is expected to result in the NSWRL paying compensation to VB, follows a secret visit by QRL director Terry Mackenroth and general manager Ross Livermore to News Ltd's Surry Hills headquarters on Monday to discuss the independent commission.

The QRL wants to maintain control over the running of the game in Queensland once the independent commission comes into existence, and is believed to be prepared to back News on other contentious issues being negotiated with the ARL and the NRL clubs.

NSW say the signage dispute shows the QRL isn't acting in the best interests of the game, as all proceeds from Origin are supposed to go to the NRL in return for a guaranteed funding grant to each state. As a result, the refusal to allow VB signage on the ground at Suncorp Stadium threatens to cost the game money.

Source: http://www.leaguehq.com.au

[DIEHARD]

Pretty sad to see this sort of thing happening in professional sport, especially our sport.

But we also need to try and maximise involvement of companies.

Perhaps existing contracts are getting in the way, but I can see both sponsorships living in harmony. It just depends how things are, does the Origin package include the teams? Or are they independent and entitled to seek their own sponsors?

It definitely reminds me of the lunacy of the old XXXX v Powers war with the Broncos and QRL, which was part of ther reason the Broncos abandoned Lang Park.