How Roosters supremo Nick Politis ended up sponsoring Raiders star John Bateman
Sydney Roosters supremo Nick Politis has been a rugby league sponsor for longer than anyone. But there’s one third-party deal he may live to regret in Sunday’s grand final - one of his 300 plus car companies sponsors Canberra Raiders forward John Bateman.
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CAMPO’S CORNER: The last men standing
Sydney Roosters supremo Nick Politis has been a rugby league sponsor for longer than anyone.
Yet there is one third-party deal he may live to regret in Sunday’s grand final.
One of more than 300 car companies Politis owns across the country and the US just happens to sponsor Canberra Raiders forward John Bateman.
Phillip Mitsubishi in the national capital gave the English forward a sponsored car when he arrived in Canberra from the UK in a third-party deal officially registered with the NRL.
Bateman recently did a TV commercial for the dealership but his northern English accent was so hard to understand it had to run subtitles.
“How about a new Triton — tough like me,” Bateman says.
“Tell them John Bateman sent you and receive seven years free roadside assistance.”
Bateman, who became a father at 16 and credits rugby league for helping him get off the rough streets of Bradford, has been a revelation for the Raiders this season.
Bateman is a $41 chance to win the Dally M medal tomorrow night.
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Politis has no regrets about helping out the game-breaking Englishman and his grand final rivals.
“Seriously, he’s a good player, a good person and a credit to the Raiders,’’ Politis said.
“Our dealership has a great relationship with him.”
As long as he doesn’t strip the ball and score the matchwinning try.
At the time the sponsorship was approved, Politis had no idea it could come back to haunt him on grand final day at ANZ Stadium.
In 1976, Politis became the first jersey sponsor of any sporting franchise in Australia when he splashed City Ford across the front of the Roosters jersey.
He was the dealer principal at the time.
All rugby league and AFL teams soon took up his idea to bring new money and big corporates into the various codes.
These days sporting franchises get up to $1.5 million for the front-of-jersey sponsorship.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart coached the Roosters to win the 2003 grand final under Politis.
They still talk regularly.
“It’s typical of Nick and his business to be looking after one of our players,” Stuart said.
“He just loves rugby league and wants the game to thrive, not just at his own club.”
Earlier this year, Politis celebrated 25 years as chairman of the Roosters in a private dinner for which Sonny Bill Williams flew in from New Zealand to attend.
He is the longest-surviving club chairman in rugby league history.