NRL NZ Warriors and Newcastle Knights clash: Tamworth council sponsorship brings advertising return money can't buy

Spectators from across the Tasman were glued to their screens in the televised match between the NZ Warriors and Newcastle Knights held at Scully Park on Saturday.

Tamworth Regional Council (TRC) sponsored the game for $20,000, but the value of the city's name up in lights is priceless, deputy mayor Phil Betts said.

"The value is truly amazing for the sponsorship we put into it with the return you get," he said.

"I don't think you can calculate the benefits for the broader exposure."

The game itself had about 2000 spectators due to COVID-19, but media flocked from both national and international sports channels to cover the Warriors 36 to six thumping of the Knights.

Warriors chief executive Cameron George said after the support the team received in Tamworth it was great to come back and give the community a show.

"Without a doubt it has raised Tamworth's profile, we have a Warriors TV and partnership with Sky NZ, there's a feature where Daryl Halligan went to Tamworth and spent the day to show the people of NZ what a beautiful place it is," he said.

"This is why you build facilities capable of bringing teams to town at a league level, because it generates so much interest in the town and that exposure on this occasion was international."

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The return for the council's Wests Tigers game sponsorship in March was estimated at $2.14 million for the economy, but that was before COVID-19 limitations.

TRC acting growth and prosperity director Anna Russell said there's no doubt the NRL sponsorship is a good investment.

"It brings with it a national audience beyond what $20,000 in advertising could secure," she said.

"Hosting an NRL game is a great opportunity to promote Tamworth as a destination because it attracts national media attention in the lead up as well as the audience watching the actual game."