Wizard Lends a Hand to Qld Cup

Australia?s leading non-bank lender, Wizard Home Loans has stepped up its commitment to expansion in Queensland by announcing a three-year commitment to the state?s premier league competition the QLD Wizard Cup.

The sponsorship agreement guarantees the future of the competition which has helped inspire record participation in Rugby League in the sunshine state.

?I am thrilled to be getting behind a Queensland competition like this,? Wizard Chairman Mark Bouris said today.

?It?s a competition that Queensland Rugby League has developed through hard work and persistence and we believe that should be rewarded.

?We believe the QLD Wizard Cup has huge potential for expansion, giving the fans and players the local identity that they want.?

Queensland Rugby League Chairman, Mr John McDonald, expressed his delight with the partnership pointing out that both Wizard and the QLD Wizard Cup competition were growing in strength in Queensland with each year.

?We might not be friends with Mark at all times during State of Origin but he?s probably the first Wizard Blue who could now pick up the title of being an ?honorary Queenslander?,? Mr McDonald said.

Mr McDonald believes that the QLD Wizard Cup is now firmly established as the benchmark for a state-wide competition in Rugby League and that it is the perfect second tier model for anyone underneath the NRL. Wizard sees the timing of their sponsorship as a real opportunity to stimulate an even higher profile for the competition, which continues to attract strong audiences.

?Wizard?s track record shows that if you provide support at the right time and commit to a long term relationship, you can take competitions like this to much higher levels for the players and the fans,? Mr Bouris said.

?We?ve learnt a lot from eight years of sponsoring the Wizard Blues during State of Origin and believe we have a lot to offer the QRL.

?Our Queensland branches will be thrilled to see this commitment to Queensland ? after all, they think we back the wrong side when it comes to Origin.

?The sponsorship is a perfect tie-in with our business strategy as we have big growth plans for the sunshine state. By month?s end we will have 40 branches in Queensland, with plans to expand into the south-eastern corner, central Queensland and the far north.

?The figures our business writers are producing each month prove that we are doing the right thing by committing to Queensland,? Bouris said.

Article courtesy of the QRL. for more Qld Cup news and information visit www.qrl.com.au