With the F1 coming to its completion this weekend and the second Ashes Test kicking off in Brisbane, this week of sport has been monumental.
English batsman Joe Root finally got the monkey off his back, hitting his first Test hundred on Aussie soil. It was his only knock on his otherwise near complete batting portfolio. It took 30 innings and 10 half-centuries, but the ex-English skipper finally raised the bat, and more importantly steadied a collapsing ship to steer the Brits to a handy 325 run lead at the end of the first day.
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The F1 is full speed ahead to the final pit stop, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Even though there is only one race left, the teams and drivers still have so much to race for.
For the first time since 2010, there will be three or more drivers fighting for the championship in the final race of the season. McLaren’s Lando Norris (408 points) and Oscar Piastri (393 points) will both be looking to win their maiden World Driver’s Championship. But they will have to fend off the four-peat champion, Redbull’s superstar, Max Verstappen (396 points).
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Welcome back to B&T’s Spotlight on Sponsors series, where we break down all the major sponsorship news from inside the sporting world.
Stepping away from the crease and the tarmac, the bleachers have also had quite the attention this week. New Balance has entered the NRL market through the Perth Bears, JD Sports and Geelong Cats have inked a partnership, Brisbane Broncos and National Storage celebrated 10 years with a three year extension, Altos Tequila celebrated its official AO launch with its newest brand ambassador Thanasi Kokkinakis, and Toyota Australia has revealed its Legendary Moment.
Perth Bears x New Balance
The Perth Bears have made history again by becoming the first NRL club to partner with New Balance as its official team apparel partner. The four-year deal will see New Balance design the on-field kit for their 2027 inaugural NRL season, along with official teamwear.
Perth Bears CEO Anthony De Ceglie said New Balance was the perfect apparel partner for the NRL’s newest club.
“The Perth Bears are the most exciting story in Australian sport,” he said. “This is our latest history-making chapter with many more to come.
“We’re incredibly honoured that a brand with such incredible global recognition as New Balance would team up with the Bears to make its first foray into the NRL at a club level. Our apparel partner is more than a name on our kit—it is a statement of our values and vision for the team.
“New Balance has a commitment to elite-level performance and authentic community engagement that aligns perfectly with the Perth Bears.”
Head Coach Mal Meninga said the Bears were building a club that represents the entire Bears community.
“When you are uniting two such passionate rugby league heartlands, the standard must be elite,” he said.
“New Balance is globally competitive apparel brand, which the Perth Bears are striving to emulate both on and off the field for every single fan, regardless of where they are.”
“At New Balance, our job is to aid athletes in their pursuit of excellent, whether that means helping professional athletes win medals, or propelling the community to live a healthy and active lifestyle,” added New Balance Australia regional general manager Dean Howard.
“In partnership with Belgravia Apparel, we are proud to partner with the Perth Bears and look forward to seeing the partnership come to life over the next three years.”
Belgravia Apparel is the Australasian elite team wear partner of New Balance, supplying both supporter and performance products for a broad range of professional and amateur sporting organisations.
New Balance is already quite versed in the AFL and Cricket markets, sponsoring Aussie captains Steve Smith and Pat Cummins as well as AFL Clubs Brisbane Lions, West Coast Eagles, Gold Coast Suns, GWS Giants, Melbourne Demons, as well as another sporting club that is yet to play its first game, the Tasmania Devils.
The apparel brand joins Budget Direct and Gage Roads Brewing Co. as the first brands to partner with the newest NRL club.
Geelong Cats x JD Sports
Geelong Cats have inked a new partnership with sports fashion retailer JD Sports, who join the club as an elite partner ahead of the 2026 AFL season.
The Cats become the first AFL club to wear the JD logo, joining some of the largest clubs and codes in the world, including those from the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, and the UFC, among others.
JD Sports will be the official shorts partner of the Cats, with its logo to feature on playing shorts (home and away), training shorts and travel shorts and pants. JD is internationally recognised for its fusion of sport, fashion and youth culture so fans can expect JD to bring the same energy, impact and standout moments to Geelong’s members, fans and the wider community that have made it one of the most influential brands in youth culture globally.
The partnership follows the opening of JD’s first store in Geelong this year and reflects the brand’s strong belief in the region and the Club.
“We’re thrilled to welcome JD to the Cats family and look forward to working with their team to bring this partnership to life,” said Marcus King, Geelong Cats chief operating officer.
“JD is a globally recognised brand, and we’re excited to collaborate to strengthen the connection between JD Sports and our members, players and fans not just across Geelong but nationally in a fresh and engaging way.”
“We’ve built an incredible connection with fans through our long-term partnerships in sport over the last eight years. We’re proud to partner with the Geelong Cats, our first-ever direct club sponsorship within the AFL and the first to don the iconic JD roundel on the shorts,” added Michael Weatherston, JD Sports director of marketing.
“After opening our store in Westfield Geelong earlier this year, we have found immediate impact with the consumer and see an opportunity to support the community further through partnering with the Cats. We’re impressed not only with the legacy and long-term success of the Club, but also the desire to be more meaningful to a younger audience.”
Brisbane Broncos x National Storage
The Brisbane Broncos have celebrated a milestone with long-time partner National Storage, marking 10 years of teamwork with the announcement of an extension through to 2027.
National Storage first joined the Broncos partnership stable in 2016 with the NRL team, before extending its support to the NRLW foundation side in 2018. Since then, the partnership has grown into one of the Club’s longest and most trusted alliances.
In a nod to its recent brand campaign, the renewed agreement will see National Storage continue to ‘Make Space’ for footy for more than a decade, reinforcing their commitment to both Broncos’ teams on and off the field.
From humble beginnings in the Brisbane suburb of Oxley 30 years ago, National Storage has grown into a strong self-storage provider across Australia and New Zealand, with more than 270 centres and a reputation for quality, innovation and community support.
The extended partnership will ensure National Storage maintains a strong presence across Broncos’ branding, match-day experiences and community initiatives while continuing to build national awareness and meaningful connections with customers.
The National Storage logo will remain a standout feature on the Broncos’ NRL and NRLW home and away jerseys.
“Reaching the 10-year mark with National Storage is a testament to the strength of our partnership and the trust that underpins it,” said Brisbane Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy.
“They have been by our side through some of the Club’s biggest moments, supporting both our NRL and NRLW programs from the beginning.
“National Storage is a genuinely iconic Australian brand with Brisbane roots, and their commitment to our Club, and our members and fans has been outstanding. We’re excited to continue building on that together.”
“We are thrilled to continue our decade-long partnership with the Brisbane Broncos, an organisation we are incredibly proud to support,” added National Storage managing director Andrew Catsoulis.
“This relationship reflects our shared values and commitment to our communities, and we look forward to what the next three years will bring.”
Add this into the mix with the updated Broncos logo, and Brisbane has had quite the off-season. Who knew it could be busier than its premiership-winning 2025 season?
Australian Open x Altos Tequila
Altos Tequila made a bold entrance to summer, celebrating its Grand Slam debut as the first-ever official tequila of the Australian Open, and announcing returning Aussie tennis star Thanasi Kokkinakis as its official campaign ambassador.
Altos lit up Hotel Nacional with an all-star crowd last night, including Olympic gold medallist Briana Throssell, Paris Olympian Tayleb Willis, two-time Melbourne Storm grand final winner Cam Munster, and AFL superstars Matt Guelfi and Zac Williams. Guests were treated to a sneak peek of Casa Altos, Altos’ new home at Grand Slam Oval, and an exclusive first taste of Altos’ hero AO serve, The Match Point Paloma.
Fans at the Australian Open can soak up the energy, flavour, and celebration of summer at Casa Altos—a lively nine-metre tequila bar and lounge on Grand Slam Oval, complete with a larger-than-life tribute to Kokkinakis.
Known for his charisma and on-court energy, Kokkinakis embodies Altos’ values of confidence, celebration and connection, making him the perfect campaign ambassador.
“I love the traditions of tennis, especially here at the Australian Open, but the Aussie summer is also about kicking back and enjoying time with good people,” said Kokkinakis.
“That’s why teaming up with Altos Tequila felt natural; it’s about celebrating those moments on and off the court.”
Altos co-founder Dre Masso will also be bringing the taste of Mexico to Melbourne at Casa Altos, serving the Match Point Paloma – a refreshing blend of Altos’ 100% agave tequila, pink grapefruit soda, fresh lime, agave syrup and a touch of salt, garnished with grapefruit and rosemary. Crafted for the Australian Open, this delicious serve is set to be the drink of summer.
Casa Altos will also serve crowd favourites, including Altos Lime Margarita and Watermelon premix cans, available at general admission bars throughout the tournament. The Altos Love All Margarita and Código 1530 Tequila in AO Reserve bars, bringing two of the most popular cocktails in the country to the tournament.
“As the first-ever Official Tequila of the Australian Open, we’re thrilled to welcome Thanasi Kokkinakis to the Altos family. His authenticity, grit and charisma make him the perfect ambassador for the brand,” said Kristy Rutherford, marketing director, Pernod Ricard.
“The Australian Open has always been about more than just sport. It’s a celebration of culture, connection and summer energy. Altos is bringing that spirit to life at the Australian Open and beyond this summer.”
For those not attending the Australian Open, Altos will be bringing the festivities to iconic venues nationwide through venue takeovers, AO viewing parties and hero AO serves on the menu.
Cricket Australia x Toyota Australia
Toyota Australia has revealed the highly anticipated Legendary Moment that has been selected for this year’s cricket season, as none other than Glenn McGrath’s miracle catch during the 2002/03 Ashes series—a moment widely regarded as one of the greatest grabs in cricket history.
As the Ashes Brisbane Test gets underway, Toyota are bringing this unforgettable feat back into the spotlight and under the noses of our rivals, calling on Aussies to revive that “ooh, ah, Glenn McGrath spirit” and rally for the green and gold.
Toyota’s Legendary Moment for Cricket revisits the day McGrath made history as he launched into a full-length dive in the outfield in front of a packed Adelaide Oval crowd, juggling the ball from one hand to the other, to secure the dismissal of England’s Michael Vaughan.
Following on from the successful return of the Toyota Legendary Moment campaign in AFL, which saw Heath Shaw’s smother once again take centre stage, the comedic duo of Matt Okine and Ryan Shelton are back on board for the summer of cricket.
This time, the pair take McGrath for a spin, literally and figuratively; playfully exploring the fast bowler’s iconic nickname, Pigeon. With classic humour and a nod to the nostalgic cricket days, the campaign poses the cheeky question: “Will we ever see the Pigeon fly again?”
Australian Cricket Royalty, Glenn McGrath, said he was grateful to see the Pigeon fly again after so many years.
“It’s not every day you get asked to relive a moment from more than 20 years ago. I’ve had plenty of people remind me about it over the years, but seeing it brought to life in this way has been a lot of fun,” he said.
Working with Toyota, Matt and Ryan have been a great laugh; by some miracle, the Pigeon is in the air again and reconnecting with a new audience thanks to Toyota.”
Toyota Australia chief marketing officer Vin Naidoo added, Cricket is full of extraordinary stories, but this one deserves Legend status.
“Glenn’s catch remains one of those moments you simply never forget. Bringing it back to life with Glenn, Matt and Ryan for a new generation of fans allows us to celebrate the passion, humour and history that make this sport so special.
“Toyota’s Legendary Moments is all about honouring the moments in history that bring fans together, and this one is truly iconic. We simply couldn’t let this slip through to the keeper.”
It was an era-defining play that shifted the momentum of the match and cemented its place in cricket folklore and now also in Toyota Legendary Moment history.
“Toyota has been an incredible partner of our sport at every level, and the Legendary Moments campaign helps bring to life the sheer impact cricket plays in our community,” commented Ed Sanders, Cricket Australia chief commercial officer.
“Cricket is part of our DNA as Aussies, and a campaign like this is a fantastic way to celebrate and reminisce on all the iconic moments from the summer of cricket over the years.”
Toyota’s Legendary Moment for 2025/26 celebrates McGrath’s contribution to the sport while capturing the spirit of cricket fans across Australia.
Toyota Australia want to use this campaign to help generate buzz and conversation around legendary moments at all levels of the game.
