Mackay Cutters release former NRL player Kenny Edwards before he registers a Hostplus Cup appearance

An ex-NRL player with a controversial past has been released from his Hostplus Cup side without playing a game, but mystery continues to swirl. Here’s everything we know.

Kenny Edwards in action for the Eels in 2018.

Speculation around when Mackay Cutters marquee signing Kenny Edwards will feature for the club in the Hostplus Cup has been brought to a close.

The answer is never.

But many questions remain unanswered after the Cutters released a one-sentence statement on Wednesday evening.

“The Mackay Cutters and Kenny Edwards have mutually agreed to release Kenny from the remainder of his contract,” the statement read.

The club said it would make no further comment regarding the matter.

Mackay Cutters signing Kenny Edwards. Picture: Mackay Cutters Facebook.

After the Cutters’ round one bye, Edwards was named to start in the second row in the round two team, but didn’t take the field that weekend and hasn’t been sighted on the pitch since.

Following Mackay’s round two win over the Sunshine Coast Falcons, coach Michael Comerford was asked why Edwards was a late out on the following Tuesday, March 19.

“He just picked up a little bit of a knee injury in the Blackhawks trial,” said Comerford.

“He trained last Wednesday and got through the session but when we looked into our preparation into an away trip we decided that giving guys as much opportunity to prepare as possible is the way we go.

“He’ll be another this weekend that could find his way in late but we’ll have to wait and see.”

Kenny Edwards and Mahe Fonua at Mackay Turf Club, Ooralea Racecourse, Hawaiian Christmas Race Day. Saturday 16 December 2023 Picture:Michaela Harlow

Edwards was absent from the following round three team, and following the Easter break was still been left out of the Cutters side for round four.

“He’s still unavailable at this stage,” Comerford said last week when asked why Edwards is set yet to be sighted on the field.

When asked why he was unavailable, Comerford would not go into detail, and replied: “He’s still unavailable.”

Asked if there were any updates on when Edwards would be available after he was again absent from the Cutters round five team on Tuesday, Comerford said: “Nothing at this stage.”

“If there is we’ll pass that on in due course, but he’s still unavailable for selection at this stage.”

Edwards could now play in the Rugby League Mackay and District A-grade competition, and at least one club is pursuing his signature.

Edwards boasts an impressive resume of 180 appearances across the NRL and Super League, and was trumpeted by the Cutters’ head of football at the time Kim Williams as a “very big fish”.

But his decorated career has not been without controversy.

In May of 2018, Edwards was granted an immediate release from his NRL club, the Parramatta Eels, after he was found guilty of driving on a suspended licence.

Former NRL player Kenny Edwards arrives at Fairfield Local Court for his sentencing for driving while suspended in Western Sydney, 2018.

He was also suspended for seven games in 2017 and fined $60,000 over a domestic-violence related assault after he admitted to spraying his ex-partner with water and pouring alcohol over her head in December of 2016. He received a six-month good behaviour bond and no conviction was recorded.

In 2015, Edwards served a nine-month suspension from the NRL for providing a urine sample on behalf of fellow Eel Kaysa Pritchard.

Earlier in his career, Edwards was released by both the Sea Eagles and the Dragons in the space of half a season.

In England’s Super League in 2021, Edwards was charged with the match review panel’s most serious offence, grade f, for “other contrary behaviour”, and hit with a 10-match ban after inserting his finger into an opponent.

Originally published as Mackay Cutters release former NRL player Kenny Edwards before he registers a Hostplus Cup appearance