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Sport Nation
Find your Sport Nation frequencyWhy ‘V’Landys clone’ can help the Bears
Nicholas Quinlan • May 16th, 2025 10:44 am
Andrew Voss has reacted to the news of the Perth Bears hiring Anthony de Ceglie as its CEO, believing that it shows the NRL is serious about wanting to succeed in Perth.
On Thursday, news broke of de Ceglie’s appointment with ARLC Chairman Peter V’Landys, saying in a statement that his experience in Western Australia will be important in helping establish the team in the WA market.
"To succeed in Perth, you need a well connected local who knows how to get things done and has a can do attitude,” V’Landys said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
"Anthony is a brilliant operator with a proven track record and a genuine Western Australian, and I am excited about what he can do for us as we grow rugby league in the WA market."
Voss would be in agreement about the decision and reckons that de Ceglie could have a similar impact in WA as V’Landys has had in NSW.
“It shows the NRL are on the front foot, it shows the NRL in gambling terms are moving their chips into Perth, saying we’re all in,” Voss added.
“He’s only 39 years of age; everything I read about him, and I’ve done a bit of research, he may be a little bit of a V’Landys clone.
“I think he is going to be a man of action. I think he is going to get headlines. I think he is going to stir the pot.
“I don’t think he sits back in an office, I think he’s up on the frontline.”
De Ceglie comes from a background of news media, having been the former editor-in-chief at the West Australian and was the editor-in-chief of Seven West Media before the announcement.
The West Australian would be the same newspaper that published the headline “The Bad News Bears” on its front page on the day of the team’s announcement.
With his understanding of the Perth media market, which is dominated by Seven West, and his connections, the appointment has largely been seen as a positive one, albeit one that is out of left field.
Now that he has been appointed, it will be de Ceglie’s job to start building the side for the 2027 NRL season.
