NRL 2024: The decline of NSW Blues star Dylan Edwards’ junior club Dorrigo-Bellingen Magpies
It’s the junior club of a NSW Origin star that can’t even field an under-13s team. Dylan Edwards is set to become the Dorrigo-Bellingen Magpies’ first Blues graduate. And he may be the last.
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It’s the junior club of a NSW Origin star that can’t even field an under-13s team.
When Dylan Edwards runs out onto the MCG to finally make his Blues debut on Wednesday, he does so as the first to graduate out of the Dorrigo-Bellingen Magpies.
And he may be the last.
Before he joined the Panthers’ SG Ball (under-18s) side in 2013, the teenager was playing against men twice his age on the NSW mid-north coast.
“It’s a good experience playing against men when you are still a young fella,” Edwards said.
“It only helps (progression) if you are up to it and capable.
“I’d love for every club to field as many sides as possible, it’s very important especially with how vital grassroots footy is to rugby league.”
Edwards went back to his roots in August last year, presenting medals to Magpies juniors. And even though the day was full of smiles and cheers, the turmoil was just starting.
In the lead up to the 2024 season, the Magpies were delivered an ultimatum: amalgamate with the Orara Valley Axemen in hope of creating a competitive team.
The Axemen, who were last coached by Sam Burgess in the Group Two competition, haven’t been able to field a side since losing their grand final in 2022.
They are the only junior club of a current Blues player that don’t boast a team from 13s up.
Former Magpies president George White did his best to avoid the merger, which would force his players to travel over an hour to get to games and training.
It resulted in both the clubs’ senior divisions having to fold.
“I asked for up until February to put our own team together but the group only gave us two weeks which was not enough time,” White said.
The loss of their senior teams, coupled with a lack of funding and players, resulted in the club entering a recess for all teams above their 13s age group. White left too.
But the issues didn’t stop there – now their junior teams are feeling the effects.
As a result of no clear pathways for their juniors, the Magpies has seen a number of promising players leave to seek playing opportunities up to an hour away from home.
It’s prompted many to give up playing altogether.
“We had a local boy here whose parents took him to Coffs Harbour as they couldn't see a future at Dorrigo-Bellingen,” White said.
“That same boy has now made NSW combined high schools, and has the opportunity to get picked in the Australian schoolboys team.
“We’ve got boys down at Kurri Kurri because they can’t see an opportunity here, and they don’t want to play for any other local clubs.”
White has been left devastated by the collapse of a club close to his family.
He recalled a time where the Magpies were a launching pad for junior players like Edwards to chase their dreams, even with a select few climbing through the grades on the same day.
“Dylan would play 18s, reserves and first grade on the same day, my young fella went from here to Roosters’ Flegg, to the North Sydney Bears,” White said.
“We used to be a development club for these boys. As far as the players go, I know a lot of those guys are disappointed that we couldn’t get a side together.
“Amalgamation was forced upon us, our senior players would have come back and been competitive on our own, but now we can’t.”
Inspired by Edwards’ rise to Origin, White and the Magpies are not giving up hope, with the club pushing to field senior teams next year.
They have already begun the hunt for sponsorships for 2025.
Although NSWRL requires the team to re-enter through a lower tier competition, the Magpies are driven to ensure Edwards isn’t the last of their club’s success through senior ranks.
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Originally published as NRL 2024: The decline of NSW Blues star Dylan Edwards’ junior club Dorrigo-Bellingen Magpies
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