Support swells for Titans after major sponsor threatens to pull contract
Titans indigenous legend Preston Campbell has joined a chorus of support for captain Ryan James over the sponsor saga as the club moves to resolve the matter.
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Gold Coast Titans indigenous legend Preston Campbell has labelled the sponsor saga as a “cop out” as the club moves to resolve the matter.
Club sponsor TFH has been slammed by fans on social media after The Courier-Mail yesterday revealed they were moving to tear up their six-figure sponsorship contract with the Titans over a myriad of complaints.
The national construction and event hire giant has formally told the Titans their sponsorship deal is off, blaming the club’s dismal season and captain Ryan James’ NRL grand final speech, which the company labelled “embarrassing” and “offensive”.
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The indigenous star forgot the final six words of his Welcome to Country address but has received nothing but nationwide support.
Campbell said it was a “cop out” for TFH to use James as a scapegoat to pull out of a contract with the club.
“It seems harmless to me what James did,” Campbell said.
“It’s one of those things. I know how difficult it is. I had to do it during the State of Origin and it is difficult.
“The fact he put his hand up to do it is quite courageous, so you’d think (TFH) would be a little more forgiving.
“It’s a bit of a cop out. There’s better ways to pull out of a contract than to use that excuse.”
The club is working to resolve the matter with TFH, with Titans chairman Dennis Watt hoping to sit down with the company’s owners to sort out the issue.
“We have nothing but enormous gratitude for their support over the years and the way they have stuck by us before,” Watt told The Courier-Mail.
“We hope that by sitting down we can come to some resolution soon.”
The Gold Coast-based company came under fire from rugby league fans yesterday as they took to the TFH social media accounts to express their disappointment of the contract debacle.
Even Titans head of culture and performance Mal Meninga yesterday hit out at the company over the move.
“I think it’s a pretty weak excuse,” Meninga said.
“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.”
In the midst of the contract issue, James has received even more support for his grand final gaffe.
“I feel for Ryan,” Campbell said. “He loves the club. I’m sure he’s mature enough to know not to blame himself but it’s not a good look for TFH.”
Meninga also went into bat for James over the mistake.
“Ryan was a little embarrassed by it all, but hey we forget things,” Meninga said.
“As I say to everyone, you put that on a scale of the negative things that happen in your life. It doesn’t even get a run to start off with.”
The Courier-Mail approached TFH for comment but did not receive a reply.
Originally published as Support swells for Titans after major sponsor threatens to pull contract