Club Gunnedah inks three-year deal with Gunnedah Bulldogs

Club Gunnedah has signed a new three-year deal as major sponsor for the Gunnedah Bulldogs Rugby League Club.

The agreement will see Club Gunnedah support the league club with a minimum $20,000 per year in financial backing.

Club Gunnedah general manager Marc Eisenhauer said the business has long been a supporter of local community and sports organisations.

This formalised arrangement will set out a long-term partnership with the Bulldogs club.

“The board is very enthusiastic to get on board and be home of the Bulldogs for the next three years,” Mr Eisenhauer said.

The collaboration complements expansion and renovation plans already underway at Club Gunnedah.

Mr Eisenhauer said the ‘Green Room’ on the first floor is being renovated to serve as a new sports lounge.

Key to the new space will be the addition of a 7 x 2.1-metre LED screen dedicated to live sport.

The sports lounge is due to open in time for round one of the 2025 NRL season in Las Vegas.

Returning Bulldogs president David McCann said the club was thrilled to have the sponsorship in place for the coming seasons.

“It will be great to be part of that,” he said.

McCann has been at the helm of the Bulldogs’ senior ranks since 2017. This followed a 10-year stint with the junior club.

One of the biggest highlights has been bearing witness to talented players rising through club ranks.

“I enjoy seeing the young players grow up, I’ve known most of them since they were babies,” McCann said.

“It’s good to see people playing a sport. It’s great they’re having a go.”

Looking to the year ahead, the club president said much could be gleamed from its strong performance in the second half of the 2024 season.

“We want to start the season like we finished which was very positive,” McCann said.

“Moree was the juggernaut, and Werris Creek beat us narrowly, but everyone else we beat in the second round.

“If we can start the year in the same way, I think we will be hard to beat.”

The Bulldogs have been hard at work in the pre-season with another four grades – first, second grade, league tag and under-18s – expected to line up for Gunnedah this year.

The Bulldogs are also looking forward to a trial of a women’s tackle competition this year.

The trial format will take place over 5-6 weeks early in the season with a view to run it again later in the year provided there is enough interest.

“We’re going to gauge the interest and if it’s a success we’ll probably have a late competition as well over a few weeks,” McCann said.