AJ Gilbert off to the ... 'pies?!

If bookmakers were operating on the Group 2 premiership, the odds available for Bellinger Valley-Dorrigo would be shortening dramatically.

The Magpie's coach Josh White celebrated his re-appointment for the 2010 season yesterday by announcing the club had signed Queensland Reds Super 14 flanker AJ Gilbert and former Queensland Origin winger/centre Stuart Kelly.

For the team running third on the ladder it adds another formidable angle to their thrilling style of attacking football.

“Much of the credit has to go to club legend Greg Darby who keeps his finger on the pulse about what's happening on the Dorrigo,” White revealed.

“He knew AJ was back home for the next three months while he looks for new rugby opportunities and got him to agree to finishing the season with us.”

Born and bred on the plateau, Gilbert played under 18s with the Magpies before switching codes.

After touring with Australian Schoolboys be played lock in Australia's under 19 World Championship win in Dubai, before joining the Reds from the 2007 season.

Kelly moved to Dorrigo at the end of his playing days and coach White, who tangled with him during his NRL career, said strong connections had already been established with the Bellingen club.

“Stu's young bloke plays under 18s and he's been helping out as a first-aid officer on game day,” he said.

“Our president Steve Glyde's been working on him to have a run, he's still fit as a fiddle and will bring a lot of excitement to the club.”

After debuting with Gold Coast Seagulls as a precocious 18-year-old in 1995, Kelly went on to make 182 NRL appearances with later stints at Parramatta Eels and Brisbane Broncos, which realised 50 tries.

He also made three appearances for the Maroons in the Origin series lost to New South Wales in 1997.

“Being able to play alongside players of that quality is really going to lift the young blokes coming through the club,” White added.

“We're building a great line-up of home grown talent and through contacts, a lot of high profile players from out of town are already interested in joining us next year.

“The game is really on a roll in Bellingen and Dorrigo.”

Being able to play alongside players of that quality is really going to lift the young blokes coming through the club.”


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