Titans sponsor to pull six-figure contract after Ryan James’ GF gaffe

Mal Meninga has slammed construction and event hire giant TFH for using Ryan James’ grand final gaffe as an excuse for cutting ties with the Gold Coast club.

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Mal Meninga has labelled a decision by a major Gold Coast sponsor to include Ryan James’ NRL grand final gaffe as a reason to drop the club as “weak”.

National construction and event hire giant TFH is blaming the Titans’ dismal performance this year and skipper James’ “embarrassing” and “offensive” NRL grand final appearance, where the indigenous star failed to finish his Welcome to Country address, as a major reason for the termination.

TFH, which has been a Titans jersey sponsor since 2012 and also has the naming rights for its high-performance training centre at Parkwood, has formally told the club the six-figure deal is off.

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TFH signed on as a principal backer last season in what was described as one of the NRL’s most lucrative sponsorships.

It’s understood the deal was renewed for next season, with Titans club gear and signage featuring the TFH logo approved.

The pre game tradition of stuff ups continues #NRLGF

— Dee Peak (@peakydee) October 6, 2019

Ryan James echoing the entire Titans club in being lost. #NRLGF

— Josh Howe (@JoshO567) October 6, 2019

"I'm lost".

Same Ryan James, same. #NRLGF

— Justin Davies (@JustDavies90) October 6, 2019

Love Ryan James honesty. ‘I’m lost’. We all know how you feel mate. We all been there. #NRLGF

— Dave Hughes (@DHughesy) October 6, 2019

But the company has moved to backflip on the deal in another blow for the Coast club, after a disastrous 2019 which included finishing with the wooden spoon and the sacking of coach Garth Brennan.

In a letter to the Titans, TFH director Brett Thomas said the company was terminating the sponsorship agreement “effective immediately”.

TFH said it was using its discretion under the sponsorship contract to terminate the deal due to “public comment and discussion surrounding the team’s performance, the performance of the coach and adverse discussions regarding the utilisation and selection of player talent”.

The company also blamed James’ bungled Welcome To Country speech at last week’s NRL grand final for its decision.

“The embarrassing performance of Ryan James in his speech last weekend was offensive and weighed heavily on this decision,” Thomas wrote.

“Additionally, the well documented doubts regarding the club’s future in 2020 was also relevantly considered …”

The revelation has sparked widespread criticism of the decision, with James a proud Indigenous All Stars representative.

And Meninga, who is head of performance and culture at the Titans, hit out at the company over the move.

“I think it’s a pretty weak excuse,” Meninga told AAP.

Titans Football Director Mal Meninga. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

“They have been great sponsors of the Titans for a long period of time. I know there are some other things in that letter sent to them (the club).

“But for that to be part of it, it’s in pretty poor taste.”

A Titans spokesman said a contract was in place with TFH but declined to comment further.

It’s understood the Titans will seek to enforce the contract and a legal showdown could be looming.

TFH has stuck by the club through crises including the 2015 drug scandal when star players were caught up in a major cocaine bust, the sacking of coaches Brennan and Neil Henry, the tumultuous Jarryd Hayne era, and the disasters of this season.

TFH say Ryan James’ GF gaffe was “embarrassing” and “offensive”. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty

Announcing its upgraded sponsorship in 2017, Thomas said the club was “heading in the right direction”.

“We’re here for the long haul,” he said at the time.

“There’s a lot of stability and a good feel around the club. We were very close to signing (as a sponsor) for multiple years.”

TFH also sponsors the Manly Sea Eagles and the Cronulla Sharks and has supplied temporary fencing and barricades for events including the Melbourne Cup, 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, and major music festivals.

James called his grand final speech “the biggest stuff-up of all time” but was widely supported on social media. - with AAP