Hunters receive K7.6m

 By MELTON PAIS

 THE Papua New Guinea Hunters have received a record sponsorship of K7.6 million from South Pacific Brewery — to support the rugby league club to the end of 2020.

SP Brewery managing director Stan Joyce said:  “We’re backing a winner here. The Hunters are going strong and have a lot of support not just from the fans in PNG but also from the corporate community and the Government.”

He said they decided to be the long-term sponsors because they had confidence in the Hunters and the people managing the club.

PNG Rugby Football League chairman Sandis Tsaka thanked the company for the massive support and for being behind the team in the past two years when it was competing for the first time in the Queensland Cup.

Hunters coach Michael Marum said such financial support would help the team remain competitive in the Queensland Cup and achieve their goal – to win it.

The K7,657,650 will cover the 2016 to 2020 seasons. It continues the agreement with the company and the extension of naming rights. 

SP marketing manager Roger Harwood confirmed that the amount was the largest single sponsorship to a sport by the company.

“This is the biggest amount we’ve ever given to any sport. 

“We were established in 1952 and have been backing PNG sport especially rugby league, for a long time. This represents our biggest commitment to the code,” Harwood said.

The brewer had given K4m to the 2015 Pacific Games organisers of which K1m went to Team PNG to prepare elite athletes.

SP Brewery managing director Stan Joyce announced the sponsorship yesterday in the presence of Sports Minister Justin Tkatchenko,  Tsaka, Hunters chairman Graham Osborne, PNGRFL and Hunters chief executive officer Bob Cutmore and coach Marum.

“This is our third year to be partners with Hunters – to be their number one sponsor. Our foresight in initially committing to the SP Hunters as they strive to be a continuing force in the Queensland Cup has seen a successful partnership, which will now continue to grow,” Joyce said.  

He praised the management and players for a successful 2015 season in which the team finished second. Joyce encouraged the team to continue to strive for high standards because success would result from that.

“Continue to do PNG proud when taking the field and know that the entire country is supporting you.”