Dylan Edwards replaces Josh Addo-Carr in Kangaroos squad

There was outrage when a premiership star missed Australian selection, but that has been fixed with a suspension looming for a squad member.

Dylan Edwards has finally been rewarded with a rep jersey. Picture: Adam Head

Penrith premiership star Dylan Edwards has one hand on his first representative jersey after being called in to replace winger Josh Addo-Carr in Australia’s squad for the Pacific Test series.

Addo-Carr was formally issued a breach notice by the NRL on Friday for his alleged involvement in a brawl at the Koori Knockout competition that was the subject of a league investigation.

With a two-game ban touted as potential punishment for allegedly “punching an opposition player to the head”, Addo-Carr, who starred for Australia in last year’s World Cup success, was removed from the squad and is set to be banned for two matches.

“It is alleged Addo-Carr engaged in conduct which has brought the game into disrepute by punching an opposition player to the head following a match at the NSW Annual Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout Competition,” an NRL statement outlining the breach said.

Addo-Carr has five days to respond but is set to now miss the Pacific Championships, opening the door for triple-premiership winner Edwards to take his spot on the wing.

Dylan Edwards has been included in the Kangaroos squad. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

Within Mal Meninga’s squad, Brisbane’s Selwyn Cobbo is one certain starter on the wing and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow from the Dolphins could be the other choice.

Valentine Holmes could also play on the wing but will miss the opening clash with Samoa having also been banned by the NRL for one match as a result of an incident involving a photo and a bag of white powder.

Despite his star status, Edwards, a Clive Churchill Medal winner, is ye to play for NSW or Australia.

The gun fullback received the Clive Churchill Medal for his man-of-the-match performance in Penrith’s 2022 grand final victory and polled the eighth-most votes in this year‘s Dally M Medal count.

The 27-year-old made his NRL debut as an outside back before moving to fullback but missed out on a wing role for NSW’s State of Origin side this year.

When Edwards was initially overlooked for Australian selection by Meninga, it was labelled a “glaring omission” by Panthers legend Mark Geyer on his Triple M show Mick & MG in the Morning.

“(He’s) had three of the best seasons a player can ever have, ran for 300m in the grand final and he’s been overlooked for the lack of versatility — I just don’t understand it,” Geyer said.

“He can play fullback, centre, wing. And rep teams should always be picked on form and reward and Dylan Edwards has had such a fantastic three seasons.”

Originally published as Dylan Edwards replaces Josh Addo-Carr in Kangaroos squad