NRL chief executive David Gallop is confident sponsors will stick by the game through the current spate of off-field incidents, but has warned future troublemakers face heavy punishment.
Sponsors have put the NRL on notice to clean up its act after a raft of scandals recently, putting the future of
clubs and the game as a whole under threat.
Cronulla's major sponsor LG Electronics announced on Thursday they would not renew their $750,000 a year deal at season's end while some of the game's biggest backers, Aussie Home Loans and Telstra, have also been reconsidering their support of the game.
Gallop met Aussie founder John Symond yesterday and the company agreed to continue its sponsorship for the State of Origin series.
But the NRL boss said Aussie, and all the game's sponsors, remained concerned and wanted assurance players would be made responsible for their actions.
"Pleasingly John and his team see the fit for his company and the millions of people that follow rugby league," Gallop said.
"But we certainly agree that there are issues that are of concern to Aussie and their association with the game and we agree that our clubs and our players need to be accountable for their actions."
Gallop warned players who continued to misbehave were putting the game's future at risk and would be dealt with severely.
"Our players should not need any reminding that if anything further happens to damage the reputation of the game, then the pressure to deal with that heavily will be intense," he said.
Gallop said the NRL remained in daily contact with its sponsors, including Telstra - which has ordered a review of its $12 million sponsorship - but was confident the game could overcome its challenges.
Meanwhile, Gallop said the NRL would most likely meet with the financially-embattled Sharks on Monday to discuss their future.
- AAP
