Mal Meninga has shrugged off recent reports that Perth Bears chief executive Anthony de Ceglie has just three months to save his job, dubbing anyone who wants to see the Bears fail as “bad guys.”
News Corp on Tuesday suggested the former media executive was already out of favour with the club’s board, who were seeking to relieve him of his duties. Incredibly, the report said that he would have already been ousted except that Peter V’landys intervened. The NRL owns the Bears, which means it gets final say on appointments.
- DON’T MISS OUR NRL TIPS – Click here to download our app on iPhone
- WIN CASH IN OUR NRL COMPS – Click here to download our app on Android
- CHECK OUT OUR NRL MATCH CENTRE: View stats, odds, betting insights, team lists, tips here
Meninga has now come out with a strong denial of the whole thing, telling Fox Sports that there’s no credence to the rumours — and suggesting it’s actually those who want to see Perth fail before the club gets started.
“I don’t know what it is. It’s been an ongoing battle, it’s him and I around who’s going to get sacked next,” Meninga said. “I just forget about it now, and I don’t even read the papers anymore, honestly. I just get on with the job.”
He added he and De Ceglie have “great support” at the club and would just be getting on with things. “We can only control what we control, and that’s the internal things.”
The coaching veteran has been in siege mode for some months now, and even faced his own question marks several times. The biggest was that he would be sacked before a ball was even kicked in Round One, 2027.
“I expect it. That’s the way of the world, you’ve got the good guys and bad guys,” Meninga responded after those rumours emerged in several Sydney print publications. “Someone takes the mantle of the bad guy, and they try and put as much out there, not so much to hurt people, but to be negative.”
More NRL news
Out on top: Tupou retires after fourth premiership with Roosters
Fullback royalty: Is Tedesco now better than Slater?
De Ceglie was appointed as Bears chief executive in May last year, while Meninga was then crowned as the team’s inaugural coach a month after, in June 2025.
The Perth Bears will open their NRL account for the very first time in March next year.
Are you reading on our app? Download now for the best Sporting Base experience.
