‘Everyone went crazy’: Ourimbah Magpies break six-year hiatus in return to first grade rugby league

There were plenty of laughs and cheers as an NRL great returned to help the Ourimbah Magpies break a six-year hiatus in the RLCC.

James Maloney in action as Ourimbah returned to first grade football for the first time in six years. Picture: Sue Graham

There were plenty of laughs, cheers and even a few tears as the Ourimbah Magpies broke a six-year hiatus and made an emotional return to the Rugby League Central Coast first grade competition on Saturday.

And while the first grade team might not have got the result it was after, going down 22-10 to The Entrance, it barely put a dampener on what was a special day for the Magpies at Bill Sohier Park.

“It was really good. We couldn’t have hoped for a better day, unless we won. Results are the only thing that could have been different,” said Ourimbah’s first grade co-coach Ben Bell. “The weather was perfect, there was a whole lot of people there and we had all six grades on.”

Indeed, those who trotted down to the park certainly got their money’s worth in what was a full day of footy.

“The ladies league tag started at 8:50am and we finished at 5pm – it was a big day,” said Bell.

Ourimbah got the crowd going with the opening try of the game. Picture: Sue Graham

And while there was plenty of support for all grades, most attention was focused on the main game, with former NSW Origin and Australia representative James Maloney leading his junior club out as the Magpies played their first game in the top grade since 2019 against perennial heavyweights The Entrance.

“The occasion was there, everybody was smiling, high-fiving and saying how good it was to be back,” said Bell.

Watching on with plenty of anticipation, the home fans were given something to cheer about early on as the Magpies scored the opening try of the game after just five minutes.

“It was just a perfectly structured footy try and exactly what we’ve been working towards,” said Bell. “Everyone went crazy and we were getting stuck into them.”

While the team started strongly, a few clutch moments turned the game in The Entrance’s favour, with the Tigers scoring a 90m intercept try and then crossing for a four-pointer on the halftime siren to take a 16-6 lead into the break.

Another long-distance try saw the visitors stretch further ahead before a late consolation ensured the game finished 22-10.

But despite the first-up loss, Bell was pleased with what he saw from his chargers.

“I’ll be honest with you: I was dirty we didn’t win. And that speaks volumes because we’re upset that we didn’t beat a leagues club side with a Denton Cup team in our first game back in round one,” he said.

The Magpies were very competitive in the 22-10 loss. Picture: Sue Graham

“I was really happy with how we played and what we did. We’ll get better as a squad because had six guys making their first grade debuts – not first grade club debut, first grade debut in any club – and five guys in the squad who had actually played footy together before. So we’ll get better as we have more time on the field.”

One of the main drawcards was two-time NRL premiership winner Maloney, who at 38 has dusted off the boots to lead Ourimbah.

James Maloney was outstanding for the Magpies. Picture: Sue Graham

“It was never in doubt but Jimmy was fantastic, and I’m not just talking about on the field, he was unreal there. But he’s just part of the club, part of the team,” said Bell.

“I asked him if he was going to take it easy and he said, ‘Oh yeah, I’m too old, I’m too smart for that, Belly. I’m not gonna ‘show and go’ or anything like that’.

There was a bumper crowd on hand at Bill Sohier Park. Picture: Sue Graham

“But he must have done it 10 times, the maniac. He had a fat lip at the end of the game and a big smile on his face. He’s a football player, you can’t beat that stuff out of him. He was unreal.”

And although the first grade result didn’t go Ourimbah’s way, there was an overwhelming sense of celebration on what was a special day for the club.

“We had our presentation at the Tallies afterwards and it was packed,” said Bell. “There were heaps of people there and the theme basically was that the club is in a really good position. We have all six grades, all the supporters are back there and the club’s in a really good position moving forward.”