The smart management and active involvement from Russell Crowe and Peter Holmes a Court has again paid dividends for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, with the improving club set to announce a large deal with the National Australia Bank as the home sponsor for the Rabbits in the 2008 NRL season.
With heavy involvement by Russell Crowe, the Bunnies have again been rescued by his high profile and ‘can do’ personality he began telephoning some of the Australia’s leading financial institutions to help source the sponsorship deal.
The million-dollar deal is set to be announced and is just in time for the Bunnies Round 1, 2008 NRL blockbuster against arch rivals the Roosters at ANZ Stadium.
It’s believed that NAB will be promoted on the front of the Souths jersey for the teams home games and the Rabbitohs continue to court major partners for away games. Souths has been a new backer since walking away from controversial fuel company Firepower at the end of 2007.
Impressively, Crowe and Holmes a Court refused to drop the NRL Clubs asking price of $2.5million a season and remained firm that the South Sydney brand was certainly an attractive one to corporations and one that would give plenty of coverage. It seems a step in the right direction and while other NRL clubs don’t have the power of Russell Crowe to do deals, there is no reason they should be ‘begging’ or reducing their prices in order to secure quick deals.
Many believed Souths would ink a deal with US Giant; Blackberry or potentially extend an existing relationship with airline Virgin Blue.
What a Gladiator! Leading the way.