The St George Illawarra Dragons are delighted to announce the appointment of Tim Watsford as the Club’s new Chief Executive Officer, commencing June 2, 2025.
With nearly two decades of leadership experience in professional sport, major events, and commercial strategy, Watsford brings a proven track record in driving growth, fan engagement, and delivering world-class sporting experiences.
Most recently, as Chief Operating Officer of Supercars, Watsford played a key role in expanding the sport’s commercial and strategic footprint, including overseeing major initiatives such as the development of new race events and industry programs like SuperGEMS, which provides young women with STEM career pathways in motorsport. He also led the vision for a new Supercars street circuit event and major events precinct in Perth, reinforcing his expertise in legacy-building projects.
Prior to that, Watsford served as Chief Executive Officer of Northern Territory Major Events Company, where he successfully delivered internationally recognised events, boosting tourism, economic impact, and fan engagement across multiple sporting codes.
His deep rugby league experience comes from his tenure as General Manager – Major Events & Engagement at the NRL (2015-2018), where he oversaw the game’s biggest events, including State of Origin, the NRL Grand Final, and international tournaments. He also held senior commercial and operational roles with Rugby Australia and the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust, giving him a well-rounded background in sports administration.
Watsford said he was honoured to be joining the Dragons and eager to bring his experience to the Club.
“Rugby league has always been my passion, and I’m incredibly excited to take on this opportunity with the St George Illawarra Dragons. The Board has undertaken a thorough process, and I truly appreciate the faith they’ve placed in me to drive success for our members and fans.”
“The Club’s direction is clear, and there is a strong foundation for growth and sustainable success. My previous roles have given me invaluable experience in building sports brands, engaging fans, and delivering high-performance outcomes. I’m looking forward to working with the team and getting started from day one.”
Dragons Chairman Andrew Lancaster said Watsford’s leadership, commercial expertise, and strategic mindset made him the ideal candidate to guide the Club forward.
“The Board is very pleased to welcome Tim as our new CEO. His deep understanding of rugby league, combined with his experience in major event development, commercial growth, and fan engagement, makes him a perfect fit for our Club.”
“Tim has a proven ability to drive innovation, foster high-performance environments, and build meaningful connections between clubs, fans, and the wider community. Being CEO of the Dragons comes with clear accountability, and Tim has embraced the expectations we have set for success.”
Lancaster also acknowledged the strong interest in the role and thanked all candidates who participated in the process.
“We appreciate the many high-quality applicants who put themselves forward for this role. The level of interest reinforces the strength and opportunity within our organisation.”
The Club also extends its gratitude to outgoing CEO Ryan Webb for his leadership.
“We would like to thank Ryan Webb for the job he has done through some challenging times. He has played a key role in setting the Club on the path to growth, and we are grateful for his contributions. Ryan will remain with the Dragons during the transition period to ensure a smooth handover,” Lancaster said.
Watsford’s appointment marks an exciting new era for the St George Illawarra Dragons as the Club continues its journey toward long-term success, commercial growth, and a strengthened connection with its fans and community.
Key Achievements to date: Tim Watsford
As Chief Operating Officer of Supercars Australia, Tim led commercial expansion, government engagement, corporate hospitality, fan engagement, and sustainability initiatives. Under his leadership:
- State government investment in Supercars increased by 43%, including significant funding for infrastructure and event expansion.
- He successfully negotiated Supercars' return to New Zealand, securing investment from central government, local councils, and major commercial partners.
- He delivered record corporate hospitality revenue ($14M in 2023) while redefining the offering to navigate a challenging consumer spending climate.
- He developed new commercial sponsorship assets and strategic initiatives to expand the sport’s reach and engagement.
As CEO of Northern Territory Major Events Company (2018-2022), Tim transformed the organisation into a commercially thriving entity, increasing annual turnover from $17M to $37M. His leadership saw:
- A 270% year-on-year growth in sponsorship revenue across sport, entertainment, and music events.
- The successful negotiation of elite sports content, including NRL and AFL fixtures, with governments and commercial partners.
- The delivery of major national events, including the Arafura Games and BassintheGrass music festival, which saw attendance grow from 6,000 to 16,000 in four years.
Watsford has a strong background in rugby league, having served as General Manager – Major Events & Engagement at the NRL (2015-2018). In this role, he:
- Led the strategic development and commercial negotiations for the NRL’s Magic Round in Brisbane, now a flagship event on the rugby league calendar.
- Delivered record-breaking revenue from international fixtures, Indigenous All Stars, State of Origin, NRLW, and leading NRL Premiership games.
- Negotiated the expansion of State of Origin into Adelaide, Perth, and Melbourne, achieving over 300% return on past agreements.
- Designed and executed the 2017 NRL Grand Final Pre-Game Show, featuring Macklemore, which gained international recognition
