Auburn rugby league club set to close after failed sponsorship deal

The Auburn Warriors rugby league club is set to fold after an alleged sponsorship deal with controversial Sydney businessman and former Auburn City Council Deputy Mayor Salim Mehajer's company fell through.

Mehajer is currently in custody after being charged with perverting the course of justice and conspiracy to defraud by allegedly staging a car crash last year to avoid a court hearing for assault charges.

Auburn Warriors spokesman Norman Nicholas said the failed sponsorship deal had left the 65-year-old club out of pocket by "about $70,000 or $80,000".

Nicholas told the ABC “there is no anger towards the Mehajer family, we understand business and we understand things happen.

"To take legal action, that would be a big step.”

The Warriors have been a feeder club for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs NRL side and they were grand finalists in last year's local Ron Massey Cup competition.

Players from the club were also part of Lebanon's squad for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.

Nicholas added “we are an asset in the community, we've done a good job.”

A spokesman for NSW Rugby League said the Warriors' predicament was "sad, but it's a matter for the club".

The Auburn Warriors rugby league club was established 65 years ago. Courtesy of the NSWRL. 

22nd August 2017 - NSWRL TO LAUNCH NEW JUNIOR COMPETITION FORMATS 

8th December 2016 - LANDMARK STUDY FINDS SPORT STRUGGLING TO KEEP YOUTH ENGAGED 

5th December 2016 - NRL CONCERN OVER DECLINING RUGBY LEAGUE PARTICIPANT NUMBERS

13th September 2016 - SYDNEY TO HOST HISTORIC WOMEN’S RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP 

14th April 2016 - SUBURBAN SYDNEY STADIA TO BENEFIT UNDER $40 MILLION NRL CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE PLAN

15th November 2015 - NSW GOVERNMENT BACKS RUGBY LEAGUE CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE AT SYDNEY OLYMPIC PARK