NRL 2022: Penrith Panthers’ Dylan Edwards on cusp of remarkable Kangaroos, Dally M double
Penrith fullback Dylan Edwards is in contention to complete a remarkable Dally M-Kangaroos double as he prepares for Sunday night’s grand final.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Tireless Penrith fullback Dylan Edwards would prefer not to talk up his World Cup chances. His teammates, however, are happy to do it for him.
“I can’t rap him enough,” Panthers captain Isaah Yeo said.
“If you look at this year alone, we won the minor premiership by two or three games and he won our man of the year in a landslide.
“There was daylight to him. He has been outstanding for us. It feels like the tougher the game is, the better he goes.
“It feels like this year is the first time he has been spoken about how good he is going. I am not sure how they (Australian selectors) look at it but he wouldn’t look out of sorts (in the Kangaroos].”
Sydney Roosters fullback and captain James Tedesco will be the first bloke picked on the plane for England when the side is named next week.
Edwards is fast firming as the man to deputise for the incumbent Test fullback after coach Mal Meninga revealed the Panthers fullback could be just 80 minutes away from winning a Kangaroos jersey.
Edwards would become one of only a few players in the history of the game to wear a green-and-gold jersey without representing his state or even playing the now defunct City v Country.
Once considered just a steady, solid and reliable club fullback, he has rocketed up the fullback rankings this season and is even considered a strong chance of winning the Dally M medal at Wednesday night’s awards ceremony at Royal Randwick.
“He’s such a good player and he’s in the picture for sure,” Meninga told The Daily Telegraph.
“He had an absolute blinder on the weekend. I haven’t met him but from all reports he’s a fantastic fella and he’s got a great work ethic.
“He probably deserves to win a spot. You could say a lot hinges on Sunday night. He’s playing that well it’s going to be hard to leave him out.
“A position like this one is tight because we’ve got Latrell (Mitchell), Cameron Munster and Jack Wighton, who started as a fullback at the Raiders.
“Still if Teddy goes down, you’d want to have a specialist fullback. We’re fortunate to have a lot of good options.”
Edwards isn’t getting his hopes up. After years of toiling away in relative anonymity, he has exploded over the past two seasons.
Hard work has paid off for the Panthers fullback and it may yet result in a Test jersey.
“It is where you want to be – it is the greatest honour in rugby league,” Edwards said.
“I think representing your country is definitely the greatest honour you can have in rugby league. The amount of fullbacks in our game with quality – I am trying to do the best for my team.
“I am just trying to play the best footy I can for the club and do the best I can here.”
His work ethic is only matched by his modesty. St George Illawarra captain Ben Hunt is the favourite to win the Dally M award but Edwards is among the chasing pack as the game’s most prestigious individual honour is announced on Wednesday night.
“I would be very surprised if I jagged anything,” he said.
“You look at Ben Hunt, Nicho Hynes, James Tedesco. Even Yoey, he cleared up early and I really hope he goes close, if not gets it.
“I will be barracking of him for sure. He is my tip. He won’t like that, but he is my tip.”
Watch every match of the Rugby League World Cup LIVE & Exclusive to Fox Sports, on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
More Coverage
Originally published as NRL 2022: Penrith Panthers’ Dylan Edwards on cusp of remarkable Kangaroos, Dally M double
Cleary yet to confirm grand final heartbreak
A key Panther has proven his fitness in time to face the Storm, but the coach was staying coy over the man to miss out.
Singo’s monster punt on NRL grand final
The high-profile businessman and renowned punter has a whole lot of reasons to want Penrith to get up on Sunday.