Source : ABC NEWS
The NRL has launched a bid to win over Perth’s media, appointing a former editor-in-chief of The West Australian newspaper as the new Bears chief executive.
Head office confirmed on Thursday that Anthony De Ceglie would be the inaugural Perth CEO, appointing him to the role before a board is even in place.
De Ceglie will therefore be charged with helping put the club together, with one of the most pressing jobs being to appoint a new coach for their 2027 entry.
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The CEO appointment is notable, given the NRL conceded last week that they could face a tough run in the media in AFL-mad Perth.
De Ceglie was most recently the director of news and current affairs at Seven West Media, having been promoted after overseeing Western Australia’s flagship newspaper.
Channel 7 holds the rights to the AFL, while rival Channel 9 has the rights to the NRL.
“To succeed in Perth, you need a well connected local who knows how to get things done and has a can do attitude,” ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landy said.
“Anthony is a brilliant operator with a proven track record and is a genuine Western Australian.
“I am excited about what he can do for us as we grow rugby league in the WA market.”
V’landys had last week claimed perceived bias in Perth, after a local headline of “Bad News Bears” labelled the club as a “dud second-division team” from Sydney.
AAP also understands that V’landys and NRL CEO Andrew Abdo met with Seven West Media chairman Kerry Stokes on the eve of the expansion announcement.
“I think the media coverage has been a bit biased, in the sense the main newspaper here is owned by Seven West Media that has the AFL rights,” V’landys said at last week’s expansion announcement.
“Let’s be quite frank: They don’t want us to be here.
“They realise we will be quite competitive and we’ll be taking some of their lunch. And we eat a lot, so we will be eating a fair bit of their lunch.”
The NRL has previously indicated there will be at least three local directors on the Perth Bears board, including the chair.
Brad Arthur, Mal Meninga and Sam Burgess remain the three main candidates for the coaching role.
The Bears have five-and-a-half months before they can hit the open market for players, with anyone off contract next year considered a free agent on November 1.
AAP
