On May 30th, 2012 the Wagga Wagga council was reported by the Daily Telegraph as signing a $300,000 three year deal with Greater Western Sydney. The funding commitment was met with shock and anger from other codes with NRL CEO David Gallop heading to Wagga to get answers as to why support hadnt been forthcoming for League.
“I’ll be going down there arm in arm with the CRL to try to get some answers as to why the council is making an investment of this type with the AFL with no similar support for our code” – David Gallop
On May 31st, the Telegraph quoted Wagga Wagga Mayor Kerry Pascoe as saying he handnt heard from the NRL for 5 years.
We met with a representative from the NRL about five years ago, when Wagga Leagues Club folded and the main ground, Eric Weissel Oval, and the junior fields closed, but we haven’t seen them since. I’m glad this has come to the surface. It is now up to the NRL to present a package to us to consider
The article goes on to say that the problem may be the same that it is everywhere. That the AFL is simply too quick “Australian sports version of predator“.
References:
- May 30, 2012 – Steve and Chris Mortimer fuming over GWS Deal – Telegraph
- May 31, 2012 – Gallop flies to Wagga Wagga – Telegraph