St George Illawarra’s major sponsor has backed the club’s culture

A long-time sponsor of the St George Illawarra has backed the club’s culture as they set about rebuilding the side in the wake of BBQ-Gate

Jamayne Taunoa-Brown could soon be in a Dragons jumper. Picture: AAP

St George Illawarra powerbrokers have received unqualified support from one of their key sponsors for their handling of BBQ-gate as they begin the process of rebuilding the club by closing in on deals with Queensland back rower Jaydn Su’A and English prop George Burgess.

The Dragons have also sought permission from the NRL to sign players to help them through their short-term pain and it is understood Warriors prop Jamayne Taunoa-Brown is on the verge of agreeing a three-week contract.

As talks with potential new arrivals continue in the background, Norm Black – the founder and managing director of TripADeal, a long-time sponsor of the club – got on the front foot to defend the Dragons’ culture.

Black, in fact, revealed he was in the process of extending his sponsorship deal and had no plans to halt that process even though the Dragons have spent recent days embroiled in a Covid controversy brought about by former prop Paul Vaughan’s decision to host 12 teammates at his Shellharbour home on the weekend.

“It’s been an interesting time for the Red V,” Black said.

“There is a bit of a scenario going round where there is a bit of a witch-hunt at the club about culture. As you know, I am pretty close to a lot of the parties in the club.

“There is not a cultural issue there. There has certainly been some scenarios that have kicked up with individuals that have been unsavoury as we know.

“There is some pretty solid human beings at that club. There has certainly been a lack of effort from certain players there but as far as culture, I won’t cop that.

“It seems to be the go-to whack that people go to now – if you have a problem you have a cultural issue. We are looking to extended (our deal) by the way.

“That is based, and I tell you wholeheartedly, based on what we know is going on there and what the club is building forward with.

“That is on the back of what (chief executive) Ryan Webb has brought to the place and certainly what Hook (coach Anthony Griffin) stands for and believes in.”

The Dragons have already begun the process of replacing Vaughan. The club has targeted Taunoa-Brown on a three-match deal designed to help them navigate the next month.

The Warriors are believed to have agreed the move, their way of repaying the debt for last year when rival clubs loaned them players to help them through the season.

There is no loan system currently in place in the NRL at the moment, meaning the Warriors will need to terminate Taunoa-Brown’s existing deal before re-signing him when his agreement with the Dragons comes to an end.

Su’A’s move to the Dragons is also close to being announced while Burgess is in the throes of finalising a deal, having undergone hip surgery to extend his career.

They will join a squad that is under siege following recent events. The 12 players who attended the party at Vaughan’s house still need a clearance from the integrity unit before they can return to training as the NRL seeks to ensure only players – and no partners – attended the gathering, thereby keeping their biosecurity bubble intact.

The club also needs to submit a plan about how they intend to use the 12 players – all of whom were suspended for one game – over the next month.

“We will spread it out evenly at this stage,” Griffin said.

“Had a good look at it today We’ve got four weeks. We will probably start with week one and go from there. Look at three or four players a game.”

Black insists the club remains on the right track despite the dramas in recent days. They still have his support.

“In all honesty the way that Ryan Webb and Hook have handled this, you couldn’t fault it,” Black said.
“If that is what we have going forward, we have no problems with the front office, that is for sure. We have ridden a few cyclones over time.

“From our point of view as a major sponsor into the club, the transparency around what is happening and how they are dealing with things, you can’t fault it.

“If you had a club trying to hide those things, you would wonder what you were getting yourself involved in. There has been total transparency and they are prepared to own it.
“In some respects, they have taken it quite personally and I have had to step in and say let’s get some balance in here.”