The New Zealand Warriors have confirmed today that the Carlaw Park Heritage Trust, a trust associated with Auckland Rugby League, has successfully purchased the NRL club.
Despite being an early front-runner, the head of a US consortium Richard Fale's hopes of buying the NRL franchise off former owner Eric Watson for reportedly $22 million fell through.
Cameron McGregor and Mark Robinson say they already have plans to help the Warriors succeed for years to come.
Watson said he was happy to see the team stay local.
"The decision to sell was not an easy one and although I will always be a passionate supporter of the club, I believe the time is right to hand the club over to a new owner.
"It is particularly pleasing to see the club formally become part of rugby league’s local governing body and administrator. The new owner is certainly passionate about the game and, with the addition of the club, it is now genuinely placed to support and grow rugby league from its grassroots through to what is the pinnacle of the sport’s international club competition."
While no official price tag has been confirmed, 1 NEWS understands that the Carlaw Park Heritage Trust are paying "much less" than the $22 million that Fale's group had offered to pay with reports the purchase price the parties agreed on being less than $18 million.
The Carlaw Park Heritage Trust have agreed to a sale and purchase agreement with owner Eric Watson.
Former Kiwis rugby league coach Graham Lowe said last week having New Zealand owners in charge of the NRL side will boost the game in the country.
"There will be a genuine pathway from grass roots of the game here in Auckland right through to the professional level of the Warriors," said Lowe.
"Pathways are important, the Warriors will argue that it has always been there but they will be highly visible now.”
The Carlaw Park Heritage Trust is a trust that was set up with the profits from the sale of Carlaw Park but stands independently of Auckland Rugby League so that the ARL would not get into financial problems despite being its sole benficiary.
Between the ARL and the trust, a $15 milllion offer was reportedly initially offered to Watson but that was rejected, leading another party to join the bid.
With Autex Industries, a New Zealand-based manufacturing and product development company specialising in textiles and advanced fibre technology, the bid was raised to the agreed upon price now.
The change of ownership brings with it a change of board members with Jim Doyle and all fellow directors other than chief executive Cameron George stepping down and the new owner appointing new directors.
It is understood ARL Chairman Cameron McGregor and Autex Industries owner Mark Robinson will fill roles on the new board but there has been no indication as to who the independent board member will be.
The duo take over as owners of the club effective immediately.
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