Dylan Edwards shoots down claims from Andrew Johns amid concerns around Panthers star
The Penrith Panthers fullback insists his knee won't be a problem in the NRL finals.
Dylan Edwards has dismissed claims that his knee injury will hamper his ability to perform in the NRL finals, stating he has had to play through worse during previous finals campaigns. Edwards' right knee has remained a point of interest since he missed nearly a month of football after being hurt in the State of Origin decider.
And in recent weeks the Penrith No.1 has visibly struggled with his knee and his in-game involvement has been well below usual levels. Since making his return in Round 24, Edwards has scored just two tries and his runs are well down on his season average. In the four matches since returning from injury, Edwards has averaged just 182 run metres. In comparison in the four games before Game 3, where he was injured, he averaged 232m.
It has led to the likes of Andrew Johns questioning if Penrith can win the competition with an injured Edwards, who remains one of the most crucial cogs in Penrith's system. "It's going to be really hard for the Panthers to go all the way... They're busted," Johns said on Channel 9 after the Panthers' Round 26 win over the Rabbitohs.
"How he (Edwards) is still out there competing shows just how tough he is. He's on one leg. You can see that the right leg is heavily strapped. After he plays the ball I am watching him and after the ball goes away he is deadset hobbling on it. He must be in so much pain.
"He's grabbing hold of that knee and you can see the pain he is in... He probably will have to go for surgery at the end of the year."
But the Penrith fullback isn't in any doubt to face the Roosters in Friday night's NRL qualifying final and Edwards says his knee is progressively getting better each week. The 28-year-old admits while it has been causing him discomfort, the pain is nothing compared to the foot injury he fought through to win the 2021 title.
"I'm going good, getting better. Everyone is talking about the knee and all that, but I am getting better every week," Edwards said. "It's heaps better (than how I felt in 2021).
"It took a couple of weeks, but it's getting more comfortable. No one would be playing without anything ailing them at the moment. It is what it is, you just have to put it to the side and put the team first.''
Panthers welcome back Nathan Cleary for Roosters clash
The Panthers will also be buoyed by the return of Nathan Cleary for Friday night's qualifying final. Penrith coach Ivan Cleary confirmed on Wednesday that the halfback had ticked all the boxes needed to take the field this weekend in what is a timely boost for the triple-reigning premiers.
Cleary is not expected to require pain-killing needles to play after first suffering shoulder instability in the pre-season. And the Panthers coach said the club didn't give any thought to holding their No.7 back to return next week. "He's fit, and this was always the plan to play him this week," coach Cleary said.
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"The stakes have moved up, and we always want to pick our best team and he is ready this week." This weekend's match will also mark just the sixth time this season – and only the second time since round 10 – that Penrith will start a game with their first-choice spine.
with agencies
