Edwards' time as Cessnock's head coach is now officially over after Friday's announcement that Newcastle Rugby League were abandoning the 2021 season.

The experienced mentor was already handing over the reins to former NRL player Harry Siejka in 2022, however, the second-placed Goannas never got a chance to play for this year's major premiership.

Competition had been on hold for the last month and, although initially hopeful of resuming at some stage, the Newcastle RL finals series never got off the ground.

The call to cancel the rest of this campaign comes amid the state's ongoing coronavirus lockdown with current public health orders unlikely to be lifted in the Hunter region later this week.

"It's a shame in my last year to finish like this. But it's out of our hands and there's nothing anyone can do," Edwards said.

Edwards said all teams - Maitland, Cessnock, Central, Macquarie and Wests - alive in the top five had legitimate claims for the main prize.

"You've got five sides there with cases, thinking if only we had a chance. Anyone on their day could beat anyone. The competition was a good standard. That's the disappointing bit," he said.

Edwards remains "proud" of his squad, especially regrouping after the mid-season loss of several key players. They won 10 of 14 games and were the only side to beat minor premiers the Pickers.

"It would have been nice to have one more dip. We were building pretty well, the place was buzzing and the boys were working really hard," he said.

Edwards has coached first grade for nine seasons, eight with Cessnock and one for Lakes, as well as time looking after the Rebels representative squad.

This has featured seven grand final appearances - six losses (2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2018, 2019) and last year's breakthrough success at the end of another COVID-impacted competition.

"It doesn't matter to a lot of people, but it matters to me," Edwards said.

He intends to continue helping Cessnock with retention and recruitment.

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