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Australia

V'landys backs Meninga as Perth Bears search for new CEO

NRL boss dismisses coaching friction ahead of inaugural pre-season

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
Sources3 outlets
Australian Rugby Commission executive chairman Peter V'landys has thrown his support behind Perth Bears coach Mal Meninga and assistant Ben Gardiner, saying he is confident they will work well together when the NRL expansion club begins its inaugural pre-season next month. The show of confidence comes after chief executive Anthony De Ceglie resigned on Friday night after losing the support of the club's board.

The Perth Bears are without a chief executive following the sudden exit of Anthony De Ceglie, a former newspaper editor and Seven Network news director. His resignation is the latest upheaval in a turbulent foundation period for the club, which will become the NRL's 18th side in 2027.

De Ceglie's departure follows the resignation in April of David Sharpe, the Bears' first general manager of football and a close ally of Meninga, after a fallout with De Ceglie. The club's board subsequently brought in an expert to improve the organisation's culture, nearly a year before the team is due to play its first game.

The Bears have also struggled to assemble a top-shelf playing squad, and there has been continuing speculation of friction between Meninga and Gardiner, who is coaching Samoa at the World Cup and appears regularly on Sydney radio.

V'landys said he had discussed the issue with both men and was not concerned about their ability to work together.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The Bears are due to enter the NRL in 2027 as the competition's 18th side, and instability in the front office and coaching ranks could disrupt preparations for their debut season.
  • The club is owned by the NRL, making governance problems at the Bears a direct concern for the sport's governing body.
  • Public backing from the game's leadership may settle the coaching situation, but it does not resolve questions about the club's broader readiness.

Background

The Perth Bears are an NRL-owned expansion franchise due to begin their first season in 2027. Their establishment period has already been marked by significant turnover, including the April departure of general manager of football David Sharpe and the later decision to bring in a culture expert after a fallout between Sharpe and De Ceglie.

The resignation of a chief executive before the club has played a single game is an unusual level of disruption. New expansion clubs typically need stability in both football and administrative roles to build a competitive roster and a functional organisation, and the Bears are still working through both.

Key Perspectives

NRL leadership (Peter V'landys): Confident that Meninga and Gardiner will work well together, after discussing the matter with both men. Meninga and Gardiner: Central figures in the club's football program, but subject to ongoing speculation about friction between them. Gardiner is also balancing his role with Samoa's World Cup campaign and regular Sydney radio appearances. Club board: Removed its support for De Ceglie and has already sought external help to improve culture, signalling that internal relationships remain a concern. Critics/Skeptics: The club has struggled to assemble a strong playing squad, and repeated off-field disruptions raise doubts about whether it will be competitive when it enters the competition.

What to Watch

  • The start of the Bears' inaugural pre-season next month, and whether the Meninga-Gardiner relationship remains stable once daily training begins.
  • The appointment of a new chief executive, which will be a key test of the board's ability to move past the latest upheaval.
  • Off-season recruitment, with the strength of the playing squad a continuing concern ahead of the 2027 debut.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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