Penrith’s Dylan Edwards receives 10 stitches for nasty head gash
Ivan Cleary hailed Dylan Edwards the best defensive fullback in the NRL – and he is also one of the toughest after he required 10 stitches for a nasty head gash after full-time.
Competition leaders Penrith lost 14-12 to a Reece Walsh-inspired Brisbane on a soggy Thursday night in Sydney, which kept the premiers’ slim title hopes alive.
The Broncos still need to win their remaining seven matches to be any chance of scraping into September. They also received a bit of luck late in the game when the bunker ruled a “mutual infringement”, which denied Penrith one last attacking set.
Coach Cleary remained upbeat after the game, and was happy to praise Edwards who was arguably Penrith’s best in a performance which included two try assists, a try-saving tackle on Josiah Karapani, a push-and-shove with Ezra Mam, and a nasty head gash as a result of friendly fire with teammate Liam Martin.
Vaseline, medical gauze and headgear allowed him to finish the final 20 minutes of the game.
Nathan Cleary is the raging Dally M favourite – but Edwards is doing his best to make the leaderboard interesting in the final months of the season.
“I think Dylan is the best defensive fullback in the game, and I think it’s an under-valued skill,” Cleary said.
“We value it. He’s been incredible this year with it [his defence]. Definitely with Dyl, if he gets that part of his game right, the rest of it flows off the back of it.
“I’m just stoked he plays for us – I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do the rest of the year.”
Edwards was the last player out of the sheds after he received running repairs to the bloody wound on top of his head. His two young daughters made sure they had a good view of the Penrith doctor’s stitch work.
“I’ve ended up with 10 stitches and a decent bump,” Edwards told this masthead.
“My modelling days were gone the day I was born – they were gone the moment I came out of the womb. If I had any hope, they’re definitely shot after tonight.
“To their credit, Brisbane put us under pressure, they completed well and camped down our end. We made some untimely errors, so we couldn’t flip the field position.
“We want to be a good defensive side, and for Ivan say what he did, it’s cool to get a compliment because he doesn’t hand them out too often.
“I have a job to do within this team, and that’s to control the defensive line, and put my body on the line when I need to.
“The boys up front bust their arse play after play. I’m only doing my part.”
Even if the New Zealand Warriors and Sydney Roosters win this weekend, Penrith will remain two points clear on top of the ladder.
One of the big talking points at the club in the coming weeks will be whether they can re-sign their Origin trio, including Cleary, Isaah Yeo and Martin.
Cleary said he was glad hooker Mitch Kenny re-committed during the week, adding:“I look forward to a few more over the next few weeks.”
Edwards would love the big-game trio to all pledge their futures beyond 2027.
“Ultimately, they have to do what’s best for them. I do know we have a great squad, we’re all connected, and we have a level of trust that’s pretty uncommon,” he said.
“We have great leadership group led by Nath and ‘Yeoy’. We’d love to keep them.”
As for denying Cleary the Dally M, Edwards shook his head and said: “Mate, I’m not even close. It’s not even a thought in my mind. If anyone should win it, it’s Nathan.”
The Panthers take on Parramatta next Thursday while Brisbane head to Townsville hoping to notch another win and build some momentum that will have every rival team on notice.
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