The NRL has officially forced the Warriors to end their sponsorship deal with Vodafone due to its conflict with competition sponsor and fellow communications giant Telstra.
On Monday, Vodafone announced a new two-year deal to extend their 22-year long partnership with the Auckland-based NRL side.
But that arrangement will now expire at the end of this season, after the NRL refused to grant an exemption for their sponsorship to continue beyond this year.
"Sadly, we understand the NRL has advised the Warriors their naming rights partnership with Vodafone NZ is now in conflict with the NRL game-wide partnership with Telstra," the company says.
"As a result, we understand the NRL is not intending to grant an exemption for the Vodafone NZ partnership beyond the current season, which ends in October 2020.
"This means unfortunately, and very reluctantly, Vodafone NZ will likely conclude its 22 year sponsorship of the Warriors at the end of the current season, having in effect been told by the NRL our brand isn’t welcome."
The loss of the annual $1 million the company provides in sponsorship compiles the club's financial woes, with their coffers already stung by the loss of ticketing, merchandise, and match day hospitality.
Warriors chief executive Cameron George has told Newshub that he's "devastated" by the decision.
"I'm devastated by the position we're in," George says.
"We've requested more information from the NRL. Once we receive that information we'll be in a better position to explore our options moving forward.
"Vodafone been a fantastic sponsor, not only of our club, but of rugby league."
New Warriors consultant Phil Gould says the "bold call" from the league has angered the club and could cause major conflict and a "PR disaster" within the competition.
Gould believes rival clubs are likely to back the Warriors' position.
"No one is happy," Gould told Nine's 100% Footy.
"I think there's been something that has changed in the deal between Telstra and the NRL and I think this is something that was inserted in the contract a couple of years ago and I think Telstra started to push to the envelope on the demands from the NRL, so the NRL had to concede to that.
"I find this as potentially a PR disaster and I'm very interested to see how it goes."
The situation has been described as "unfortunate" by acting NRL CEO Andrew Abdo.
"We have been working with Warriors on managing the inherent conflict that exists with their club sponsor and the competing naming rights sponsor," abdo says.
"It's unfortunate the Warriors and Vodafone have not been able to come up with a mutually beneficial solution."
