Penrith Panthers have moved on following the departure of former skipper Matt Moylan by announcing the re-signing of promising fullback Dylan Edwards on a long-term deal.
With Edwards already contracted to the club for 2018, the two-year extension will keep the 21-year-old at the club until at least the end of 2020.
A Dorrigo junior, Edwards burst onto the scene in 2017, averaging 180 metres per game in the No.1 jersey. That allowed Moylan to switch into five-eighth, sparking a mid-season revival as the Panthers surged into the finals.
Moylan's recent move to Cronulla allows Edwards to settle into the fullback spot long-term, with Kangaroos player James Maloney finalising a deal with Penrith following the World Cup to work alongside young halfback Nathan Cleary.
"It feels great - I’m really excited about my future here," Edwards said.
"The boys are coming closer and closer every year … you come into work with a bunch of your mates every day.
"We've got a lot of talent [at the Panthers] and hopefully it comes to fruition throughout the next couple of years and we get some really good results."
Panthers executive general manager Phil Gould was delighted with Edwards' retention.
"Dylan is a country boy who came to Panthers in 2013 to join our junior representative program. He is the perfect example of how success smiles on hard work and persistence," Gould said.
"I'm confident he has a great career ahead of him and we are extremely lucky to have such a quality young man at our club."
The Panthers have a limited number of first-grade players remaining off contract for next season, a better situation than the one facing many rival clubs.
Australian winger Josh Mansour and veteran Peter Wallace are the only high-profile names yet to secure their futures, while injured utility Tyrone May is also a free agent beyond the 2018 season.
This video first featured on penrithpanthers.com.au
