Brisbane Broncos' sponsors are still backing the club despite star Matt Lodge's troubles.getty images
A host of "key sponsors" of National Rugby League side Brisbane Broncos either reaffirmed their commitment to the club or said "nothing at all after more troubling details" in the Matt Lodge saga were revealed over the weekend, according to Phil Lutton of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. While major sponsor NRMA Insurance "urged the club over the weekend to ensure Lodge began paying some money" to the victims of his "drunken rampage" in the U.S. in '15, "others handed down mild rebukes" or backed the club to handle the "delicate situation." Brisbane is one of rugby league's "blue-chip brands but the increasingly bad PR" saw NRMA, which has a million-dollar-per-season jersey sponsorship, "put pressure on Brisbane" to put in a process of payments to his U.S. victims, who were awarded A$1.6M ($1.24M) in a civil suit. Lodge has not paid any of that money and the argument from the Broncos and the NRL is that his debt "can best be serviced by playing professional sport and earning a lucrative income." Gambling company Ladbrokes said that it had "no plans to withdraw or examine its relationship with the Broncos." Brewery XXXX, another one of Brisbane's "Premier" sponsors, said that it acknowledged Lodge's behavior was "below the standards the community would expect" but the club had "assured sponsors he was a changed man." Arrow Energy "refused to comment on the matter," while Coca-Cola and Deadly Choices "failed to answer" questions (SMH, 3/19).
