The Magpies begin their centenary year on March 24 with a three-club trial with Gunnedah and Kootingal followed by a season launch at the Commercial Hotel and the unveiling of a new playing strip.

Later in the year the Magpies have a centenary reunion for which many of the club’s past players have already committed to for a nostalgic June long weekend.

Some of the club’s greats such as Peter Rodden, Bill Bischoff, Joe Craigie and Graeme and Peter Wynn are confirmed starters, club president Kevin “Darby” Sherlock said.

“We’ve got the trial against Gunnedah and Kootingal on the 24th,” Sherlock said.

“That night we’ll launch our season at the Commercial and we will unveil our new jumper and dress shirts as well as launch the centenary.

“This year our ball boys will all have the new gear as well.

“We’ll have two sets of jumpers this year too, a home strip and away strip, and every player will get a jumper at the end of the season.”

Sherlock said members of the 1979 and 1982 premiership-winning teams were returning as well as the players who helped the club dominate Group 4 in the early ’90s, winning three premierships and a Clayton Cup.

He also said such players as Matt Parsons – the club’s co-coach with Ron Dellar for 2012 – who left as young players to make their way in the NRL, are all returning later in the year for the June long weekend

festivities.

“Players like Matt, who played so well for the Newcastle Knights, the Smith boys – Brad, Ben and Josh, who have all played first grade in the NRL – and the Wynn boys are all coming.

“Brad Davis, who played a game for the Titans, is another.

“We’ve had some great players come through, like Joe Craigie, who played Country Firsts and was the halfback in that 1979 side.”

He also marvelled at the talents of latter players such as Guy Nean, Cory Wilson and the late Daniel Wilson and the remarkable Stewart Porter.

For a small town, the Magpie rugby league production line has been immense.

Trevor Leonard played in the 1979 side, in the centres, and then captain-coached the 1982 side.

“Billy Bischoff coached us in 1978 and 1979,” he said.

“ When he came to us in 1978 he said we wouldn’t win in ’78 but would win in ’79. He was right.

“He was a great coach and he had a good side too. Joe (Craigie), Peter Rodden, Mark Fisher was the five-eighth and Jeff Brown in the centres. Darby was the hooker.”

He said he was lucky enough to coach the ’82 side and rekindle the success of three years previous.

“That was a great side too,” he said.

“We won everything that year. Won the Caltex Divisional as well.

“Six of the forward pack played for the Group and four made Northern Division – Peter Rodden, Wayne and Phillip Guest and Darby.”

These days Leonard is the Werris Creek newsagent while he and Sherlock, who has been club president for a number of years, dabble in harness

racing.