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Dylan Edwards puts Reece Walsh and Kalyn Ponga to shame with gutsy display in Kangaroos triumph

The Australian fullback has copped plenty of backlash on social media, but NRL fans should be singing his praises.

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·4-min read

OPINION

NRL fans questioning whether Dylan Edwards deserves to be the Kangaroos fullback need to take a good look at themselves, after a gutsy display to help Australia win the Pacific Championships while injured. The Penrith Panthers star has been carrying a knee injury for the better part of two months, and didn't have his best game in Sunday's final against Tonga.

But anyone questioning whether he belongs in the Test arena must have rocks in their head. Edwards copped some unfair backlash on social media during the Pacific Championship final, with many questioning whether he's actually as good as it seems.

Dylan Edwards, Reece Walsh and Kalyn Ponga.
Dylan Edwards' gutsy display for the Kangaroos put Reece Walsh and Kalyn Ponga to shame. Image: Getty

Some believe he's a product of the Panthers' system and wouldn't be nearly as good without the superstar teammates that play around him. And his lack of speed and agility on Sunday raised plenty of eyebrows, especially in the second half when he wasn't quick enough to prevent Haumole Olakau'atu from scoring off a grubber.

One person wrote on social media: "How Edwards is the Australian fullback absolutely beggars belief. The worst Australian fullback I can remember in my 50+ years." Another commented: "Glad I’m not the only one who thinks so. He’s a passenger and so average."

Dylan Edwards in action for the Kangaroos against Tonga.
Dylan Edwards has been playing with a busted knee for months. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins)
Kangaroos players, pictured here after winning the Pacific Championships.
Kangaroos players celebrate after winning the Pacific Championships. (Photo by Pete Dovgan/Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

But the fact Edwards was willing to put his body through more pain says all you need to know about him, when other players would have opted not to play at all. Many thought Edwards would opt out of playing for the Kangaroos in the Pacific Championships and choose to get his knee fixed. But the fact he was desperate to represent his country and don the Kangaroos jersey put some of his rivals to shame.

The same can't be said of Kalyn Ponga, who many believe would be a better choice to play fullback for the Kangaroos. Ponga opted to put the Newcastle Knights first and initially tried to withdraw from contention for the Kangaroos, only to be forced into an embarrassing backflip when he got coach Mal Meninga off-side.

The fact Edwards plays through injuries and debilitating pain hardly gets a mention because he doesn't make a big deal of it. Other fullbacks like Reece Walsh are always going down during games with apparent injuries, only to make miraculous recoveries just minutes later.

The fact Edwards was even in the same vicinity as Olakau'atu when he scored was commendable after he busted his backside trying to prevent the try. There have been plenty of instances when the likes of Walsh and Latrell Mitchell aren't even in the screenshot when the opposition score tries, but Edwards is always there or thereabouts and hardly ever gives up on a play.

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Edwards has now won four-straight premierships with the Panthers, a Clive Churchill medal, State of Origin series with NSW and Pacific Championships title with Australia. How anyone can question his credentials is beyond belief.

Even with a busted knee he still ran for 164 metres on Sunday from 18 carries - a remarkable work rate considering the gruelling season he's had. He also broke five tackles and made 57 post-contact metres - not bad for a bloke who apparently shouldn't be playing for Australia.