NRL club the St George Illawarra Dragons will be without a major sponsor at the end of the month, following a season in which both its NRL and NRLW teams collected the unwanted wooden spoons.
Squadron Energy will step away from the club at the end of October, bringing a three-year partnership to a close. The renewable energy company first joined the Dragons as a sponsor in 2024, taking up the ‘under number’ jersey position.
In 2025, Squadron Energy stepped up to replace St George Bank as the club’s major partner, securing the front-of-jersey position across both the Dragons’ NRL and NRLW teams.
Dragons CEO Tim Watsford announced that Squadron Energy’s would not be renewing its partnership.
“Squadron Energy has been far more than a name on our jersey over the past three years. As our major partner, they’ve embraced the opportunity to make a genuine difference through rugby league, and we’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together,” he said in a statement on Sunday afternoon.
It’s been reported that the deal was worth $1.2 million a season, and the Dragons have no plans to short-change its premium front-of-jersey space in its hunt to replace Squadron Energy.
With 2027 jerseys being released before Christmas, the Dragons commercial team will be working overtime to lock down a new major sponsor. Otherwise the club will be the first to run out without a major sponsor since the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in 2020.
“The partnership has been a source of pride for our people, giving our organisation opportunities to connect with communities through the shared passion and values of sport,” Squadron Energy CEO Rob Wheals added.
“We’re grateful to the Dragons for the partnership and proud of the impact we’ve made together.”
Newly appointed coach Dean Young has been working hard to turn his team around. Keaon Koloamatangi, Scott Drinkwater, Luke Metcalf, Kodi Nikorima, Connor Watson and Phil Sami have all signed on with the club, providing fans with a lot more hope going into the 2027 season.
