Penrith Panthers Star Welcomes New Baby Into the World
In a heartwarming moment that has lit up the footy world, Penrith Panthers fullback and four-time premiership hero Dylan Edwards has become a father for the first time, welcoming a baby boy with his long-term partner Nadine on Wednesday afternoon.
Hudson James Edwards entered the world at 3:47 pm yesterday at Nepean Hospital, tipping the scales at a healthy 3.6 kg (7 lb 15 oz) and measuring 52 cm. Mother and baby are both doing “amazingly well,” according to close family sources, and the new parents have spent their first full day as a family of three soaking up every second of the newborn bubble.
The Panthers granted the 29-year-old Edwards personal leave earlier in the week after Nadine’s labour began, meaning he missed the club’s final major field session before the Christmas break. While his teammates were putting the finishing touches on a gruelling pre-season block at the foot of the Blue Mountains, Edwards was pacing the corridors of the Nepean Hospital maternity ward, holding Nadine’s hand through what the couple described as “the toughest and most beautiful 14 hours of our lives.”
Club captain Isaah Yeo, Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai were among the first visitors this morning, arriving with coffee, pastries and a mountain of blue balloons. Yeo, a father of two himself, posted a photo on Instagram of the tiny Hudson wrapped in a Panthers blanket, captioning it: “Welcome to the pride, little mate. Uncle Izzy’s already got the first tackle bag ready.”
In a statement released through the club this afternoon, an emotional Edwards said:
“Nadine and I are completely over the moon. There’s no way to describe what the last 24 hours have felt like. Hudson James is perfect in every way; he’s already got his mum’s eyes and, hopefully, a bit of my stubborn streak when it comes to chasing kicks. We feel so lucky. A massive thank you to the incredible midwives and doctors at Nepean Hospital, to our families who have been by our side the whole way, and to the Panthers for giving us this time. I can’t wait to bring him home and start this next chapter. And yes, he already owns more Panthers gear than I do.”
Head coach Ivan Cleary, who has guided the Panthers to an unprecedented four straight NRL titles with Edwards as his Mr Reliable at the back, could barely contain his smile when speaking to media at this morning’s recovery session.
“Dyl’s been the heartbeat of this club for a decade,” Cleary said. “He’s the ultimate professional, the ultimate teammate, and now he gets to be the ultimate dad. We couldn’t be happier for him and Nadine. The boys are already fighting over who gets to be the favourite uncle; I think Luai’s claiming godfather rights, but Yeo reckons two premiership rings trumps that. It’s brought a really special energy to the group at the perfect time.”
The Panthers’ social media channels exploded with joy within minutes of the news breaking. The club posted a beautifully shot photo of a miniature No.1 Panthers jersey hanging in the BlueBet Stadium locker room, with “Hudson” and the number 1 on the back. The caption read simply: “Welcome to the world, little Panther #NextGeneration.” Within hours the post had racked up more than 80,000 likes and thousands of comments from fans around the world.
One supporter wrote: “From clutching grand final bombs to cradling his newborn; Dylan Edwards, you absolute legend.” Another added: “Hudson James Edwards; born into the greatest NRL dynasty of all time. Kid’s already got four rings before he can walk.”
Edwards and Nadine, who met as teenagers growing up in the Central Coast, have been together for more than a decade. They purchased their first home in Cranebrook, just minutes from the Panthers’ headquarters, in 2022 and quietly tied the knot in an intimate beachside ceremony on the South Coast last summer, with only close family and a handful of teammates in attendance.
Those who know the couple describe them as “incredibly grounded” despite Edwards’ status as one of the game’s elite players. Friends say Nadine has been the quiet strength behind Edwards’ remarkable career, attending almost every home game in the same seat in the western stand and rarely missing a recovery session or charity appearance.
The arrival of Hudson comes at a fascinating time for the Panthers. With the club chasing an historic five consecutive premierships in 2026, and Edwards entering the prime of his career, many are already joking that the little fullback-in-training has impeccable timing.
Assistant coach Cameron Ciraldo, who has worked closely with Edwards since 2016, laughed when asked if fatherhood might slow the star down. “Dylan’s the kind of bloke who’ll be doing 5 am feeds and still beating everyone in the bronco shuttle the next day,” Ciraldo said. “If anything, this will make him even hungrier. He’s always played for something bigger than himself; now that ‘something bigger’ has a little boy who’s going to grow up thinking kicking a Steeden around the backyard with Dad is completely normal.”
Edwards is expected to return to full training on Monday, December 8, with the Panthers’ first official pre-season trial against the Parramatta Eels scheduled for early February. Club staff have already assured the couple that family always comes first, and flexible arrangements will be in place throughout the 2026 season.
For now, though, the four-time Clive Churchill Medal runner-up and three-time Dally M Fullback of the Year is happily off-duty, learning the art of swaddling and nappy changes while his childhood home now filled with the sound of tiny cries, soft lullabies, and the unmistakable pride of two new parents who have just met the love of their lives.
From the foot of the mountains to every corner of Rugby League heartland, the message is the same: congratulations Dylan, Nadine and little Hudson James. The Panther for life, now and forever.
Welcome to the world, Hudson. The jungle just got a whole lot cuter.