Partners is just a fancy word to 'big up' a sponsorship and make it sound somehow more important or perhaps, they feel it's more likely to give the impression that it's not just a sordid financial deal, but that we have a deeper, more altruistic engagement with our 'partners' than with a mere sponsor.....as if!

Thing is, don't partners usually offer freebies to the companies involved? The whole "official supplier" sort of deal?

I don't know how much business they got, but they got plenty of coverage on TV, radio etc.
Certainly more exposure to TV and radio listeners, than people who may have been lucky enough to see an elusive Stobart lorry AND grasped that it was promoting Super League and then actually bothered to do anything about it.

And what was that worth to Stobart?

Partnership = Little if any money changes hands....various "contra" deals and "CPA" arrangements.
Sponsorship = someone has paid for the right to be associated with.

If anyone thinks Foxy,Brut or Heinz have paid up front they need their heads looking at.

I was a deal that had the dubious distinction of being practically worthless to all involved. I imagine the lawyer who drew up the contract is the only one who made a profit from it. One of the most ridiculous deals ever seen. Apparently the final decision wasn't even the RFL's fault ( though of course had they had the skill, marketing expertise and general charm to find a better sponsorship deal in the first place it would never have been considered) - the mind boggles at who on earth thought it had any value whatsoever.

Are you serious ?

Whilst that may be true in some cases it isn't in all. Man Utd for example have loads of companies listed on their Official Sponsors web page and most of them are described as partners despite at least some of them paying out decent money.

Calls to the Samaritans are allegedly up by over 12% compared to last year, so yes... we need them more than they need us.

Well we certainly need them more than we need you!!

And that's only from the staff at Red Hall.

I would suggest it is 100% true in this case....we will see when the accounts for the last 2 years come to light.....£1.7 million from Engage in 2011........wonder what 2012 and now 2013 will show?



United....seriously? Estimated "unique" fans in the Millions globally...I would go so far to say they got more TV viewers in asia alone when they beat villa for the title earlier in the week than SL gets in a season.

A more useful comparison would be with the list of sponsors on the other codes website.....the RFU also calls them "partners and suppliers" and declared £15,300,000 in sponsorship revenue in their 2012 accounts.....the RFL in 2011 declared £1,858,404 in sponsorship revenue.....

Foxy Bingo, Brut and Heinz Big Soup are at best contra deals.....they access the RFL database, the RFL gets to access theirs......and not a lot else will happen.

A more useful comparison would be with the list of sponsors on the other codes website.....the RFU also calls them "partners and suppliers" and declared £15,300,000 in sponsorship revenue in their 2012 accounts.....the RFL in 2011 declared £1,858,404 in sponsorship revenue.....

And that is why change is needed yet the same people spout the same drivel whenever the RFL or its exclusive behind closed doors ways are shown for what they