'Eddy' v 'Teddy': Dylan fights back in battle to be Blues No.1 man

It seems anything “Teddy” can do, “Eddy” can too. 

A hat-trick of tries and a stand-out performance in Penrith’s 44-12 rout of Newcastle at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday suggests Panthers and NSW fullback Dylan Edwards has no intention of handing back his Blues jersey to Roosters skipper James Tedesco. 

Edwards was everywhere against the Knights, scoring his try treble in an eight-minute blitz to give Penrith an 18-0 lead after 20 minutes, and they never looked like losing from there against a Newcastle side that made too many mistakes to challenge the NRL leaders. 

He added a try assist for Brian To’o in the 64th minute to extend Penrith’s lead to 34-12, was never troubled by Newcastle’s kickers, and by the final siren had run for 284 metres.

‘Dyl’ is everywhere all the time,” Penrith coach Ivan Cleary said at the post-match media conference. 

“I just think he’s had a great season, and he does so much work, but some of the quality today as well, he turned up in the right spot to get those tries, but he threw a nice pass for a try as well, and that’s an evolution in his game. 

“It’s pretty much business as usual for ‘Dyl’. He does that for us week in, week out, and has been for years.” 

Tedesco, a former NSW captain with 23 State of Origin games to his name, has rocketed back into selection contention courtesy of his scintillating form for the Roosters this season and last, giving Blues coach Laurie Daley much to ponder in the next three weeks. 

“That’s what you want, ultimately,” Cleary said. 

“You want competition for spots, and no-one owns any Origin jersey – or they shouldn’t – so it’s a good problem for Laurie and the selectors...

“It’s not really my business but I think it’s a good problem at the end of the day.” 

Edwards, who has worn the Blues’ No.1 jersey for the past five games, is well aware of the competition for his position but is only concerned with playing well for Penrith each week rather than looking ahead to the Origin series-opener at Accor Stadium on May 27. 

“He [Tedesco] has been in great form, so whoever Laurie goes with, he goes with,” Edwards told NRL.com. 

“It’s cliched but obviously I’m just trying to do my best for the team week in, week out, and that’s all I can worry about and all I can control. 

“We had the whole [NSW] squad, you might call it, we had a get-together at the start of the year, and Laurie said whoever’s playing the best will get the nod for the jersey and that’s totally fair. That’s how it should be, really. 

“I’m just aware that I’ve got to worry about my own form and my own performances and try to play well for this team. Everyone in this team wants to play well, and we have a collective group that’s working really hard.” 

Penrith and NSW halfback Nathan Cleary, who has played alongside Edwards and Tedesco in the Origin arena, believed Edwards was not using Tedesco’s stellar form for motivation. 

“Not really, I don’t reckon. I reckon he’s fully focused on getting the best out of himself and putting his best foot forward for the team,” Cleary said. 

“Dyl’s always been a very selfless player, a team-first guy, and probably not one that does a lot of flashy stuff. But he’s always there when we need him, and super reliable, and I love taking the field with Dyl every time I get to.”