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The Brisbane Broncos have defended their decision not to send a representative to an NRL Magic Round promotional event in the Brisbane city on Wednesday.
Brisbane have hit back at the NRL after the governing body vowed to investigate their failure to line up a former club great to appear at a Magic Round promotional event on Wednesday.
The NRL said they would ask the Broncos for a please explain after they were the only club not to have a representative present at an event at King George Square in Brisbane's CBD, despite it being just 4km down the road from their Red Hill base.
"The NRL is clearly disappointed and will look into the matter post-event," an NRL spokesman said.
"It shouldn't take the focus though off what will be a wonderful event for Brisbane."
However the Broncos said they were unapologetic and the NRL knew in advance they would not attend because of a conflict with their major sponsor NRMA Insurance.
The event, which featured the likes of Wendell Sailor representing St George Illawarra and Anthony Minichiello making an appearance as a Sydney Roosters ambassador, was sponsored by rival insurer Youi, with signage for the company prominent throughout.
The Broncos said the NRL knew in advance the club would not be attending.
They also defended their record of helping to promote Magic Round, which begins on Thursday and will have all eight games played at Suncorp Stadium, pointing out they had two players appear at a Fox League event the day prior and held an open media day earlier in the week.
"NRMA Insurance is one of the club's contracted protected partners - which means the club cannot take part in anything that promotes a rival brand in the same category," the club said in a statement.
"Once the Broncos discovered today's promotional event was sponsored by another insurance brand, the club opted out - and informed the NRL.
"The NRL fully endorsed that course of action as recently as last night, and we make no apology for standing with our long-term partners NRMA Insurance."
