Peter V’landys, the Australian Rugby Commission executive chairman, has defended Perth Bears head coach Mal Meninga and his assistant Ben Gardiner following the sudden resignation of the team’s CEO, Anthony De Ceglie. The departure marks another setback for the expansion team, which faces challenges in building its squad and improving organizational culture. V’landys stated that he is confident Meninga and Gardiner will work well together when pre-season training begins next month.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-10,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Peter V’landys, chairman of the NRL-owned Perth Bears, dismissed concerns over the team's leadership following the sudden resignation of CEO Anthony De Ceglie. The Perth-based expansion team, scheduled to debut in 2027 as the competition’s 18th side, is facing organizational challenges and a lack of cohesion among its staff. De Ceglie's departure came after losing board support, adding to existing turmoil that includes the April exit of general manager David Sharpe due to conflicts with De Ceglie. V’landys expressed confidence in head coach Mal Meninga and his assistant Ben Gardiner, despite ongoing speculation about internal friction within their coaching staff. The Bears' board is composed of notable figures such as former Australian government minister Ben Morton, ex-federal treasurer Joe Hockey, and others, aiming to improve the club's cultural dynamics before its inaugural season.
Written for “Australian Rugby League Drama” on 2026-10-10,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Peter V’landys has played down suggestions of more trouble at the controversy-plagued Perth Bears involving head coach Mal Meninga and his assistant Ben Gardiner, saying he is confident they will work well together when the expansion team begins their inaugural pre-season next month.
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team → play → season
The NRL-owned Bears are without a chief executive following the sudden exit on Friday night of Anthony De Ceglie, who resigned after losing the support of the club’s board.
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who → own → board
The departure of the former newspaper editor and Seven Network news director was just the latest chapter in a tumultuous foundation period for Perth, who will become the competition’s 18th side in 2027.
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who → become → 2027
David Sharpe, the Bears’ first general manager of football and a close ally of Meninga, quit in April after a fallout with De Ceglie, and the board was moved to bring in an expert to improve the organisation’s culture nearly a year before the club was due to play its first game.
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club → quit → 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.
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who → struggle → radio
V’landys, the Australian Rugby Commission executive chairman, said he had discussed the issue with both of them and was not concerned.
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he → say → them
“I’ve spoken to both the coach and assistant coach, and they think it’s really been blown out of proportion and they get along fine.
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they → speak → proportion
They are both very professional people,” he said at the launch of the World Cup at Moore Park on Saturday.
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he → say → Saturday
Ben Gardiner is an up-and-coming emerging coach who has done [work] with various clubs, most recent being Penrith.
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recent → come → clubs
I think when they all get going they’ll be a great team.”
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they → think → ?
De Ceglie, formerly a lieutenant of media mogul Kerry Stokes, was hired by V’landys and the Commission in May 2025, a month before the club’s board was appointed.
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board → hire → May
He lasted less than 18 months, with the announcement that he was leaving coming three days after a meeting of Perth directors.
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he → last → directors
De Ceglie’s responsibilities will be taken over in the immediate future by general manager of football Gareth Holmes, once a team manager of the Australian team under Meninga.
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responsibilities → take → Meninga
V’landys said the CEO’s permanent replacement would not be determined by him and the Commission.
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replacement → say → him
“Realistically … that’s a decision for the board.
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that → ’ → board
We are going to let the board decide all those positions.
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board → go → positions
We [appointed] the first one.
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We → appoint → one
After that, it’s really the role of the board,” V’landys said.
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V’landys → ’ → board
“That’s what proper corporate governance is.
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governance → ’ → ?
We’re not going to interfere into what the board wants.
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board → go → what
They’ve got to select their CEO moving forward now and their staff because they are going to be treated autonomous just like any other club.”
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they → get → club
The Perth board is chaired by former Australian government minister Ben Morton and includes ex-federal treasurer Joe Hockey, North Sydney Bears chairman Daniel Dickson, Nine sports presenter and North Sydney director James Bracey and former Western Australia Cricket Association CEO Christina Matthews.
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board → chair → Hockey
Others on it are Jacqueline Johnstone, a former detective and racing investigator now working at the NRL, and Harness Racing Australia chairman John Dumesny.
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Others → work → NRL
V’landys said he was sorry to lose De Ceglie, calling him a “brilliant guy” who has “done his job”.
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who → say → job
He believes the building blocks for success have been put in place at the Bears and that their playing strength is underestimated.
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strength → believe → Bears
“When you build a rugby league club the first thing you’ve got to build is culture.
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you → build → club
The two clubs that have the best culture in my view are Melbourne Storm and Penrith,” V’landys said.
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V’landys → have → view
“If you look at the [Bears] roster there is a great representation from both the Melbourne Storm and Penrith which will build a great culture in the Perth Bears from the beginning.
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which → look → beginning
“I think that Mal Meninga is going surprise a lot of people on his early success.
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Meninga → think → success
He knows what he’s doing.
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he → know → what
I don’t have any concerns.”
Sports news, results and expert commentary.
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I → have → news
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