Insurance giant Budget Direct has signed on as the Perth Bears sleeves partner, marking the NRL club’s first major commercial deal. The sponsorship is thought to be worth more than $1 million annually, making it the most lucrative sleeves deal in the league at nearly twice the typical price. Perth Bears chief executive Anthony De Ceglie. Credit: Stefan GosattiPerth Bears chief executive Anthony De Ceglie said the record-breaking deal pointed to the club becoming one of the most commercially successful in the league. “The Perth Bears are a rare and special club – unlike anything else in the country – that allows brands the chance to have a monopoly on the NRL in Western Australia while also having a second home and supporter base in the bustling North Shore of Sydney,” he said.