Penrith star Dylan Edwards made a statement in his bid to retain his NSW fullback jersey with three tries on the weekend having overshadowed James Tedesco’s stellar performance. Tedesco was brilliant against the Dragons on Saturday having ripped the last-placed team apart in the dominant 62-16 win.
This meant Edwards had to respond. And the Penrith Panthers fullback did just that. Edwards scored a first-half NRL hat-trick against the Newcastle Knights as the Panthers won 44-12. Edwards was everywhere in the first 40 and was rewarded with three tries within 21 minutes.
Dylan Edwards (pictured left) responded to James Tedesco’s (pictured right) performance with three tries of his own on the weekend in the battle for the NSW Blues fullback jersey. (Images: Getty Images)
This took his season tally to nine tries in eight games. The fullback has returned with a point to prove in 2026 after losing his Australian jersey to Reece Walsh. And he is currently in a battle to retain his Blues jersey with Tedesco pushing his case for a recall in the NSW team for State of Origin 1.
Edwards ran for 292 metres against the Knights, which involved three tries, two linebreaks, two linebreak assists and seven tackle breaks. Tedesco was also highly-energetic having run for 278 metres, while producing a try and two linebreaks and two try assists.
And Panthers coach Ivan Clery said it was a bonus Edwards was being pushed to his limit to keep his representative jersey. “Dyl’s just everywhere all the time, he’s had a great season, does so much work, and some of the quality today as well – he turned up in the right spot to get the tries but threw a nice pass to a try as well, which is an evolution in this game as well,” Cleary said.
“Teddy (Tedesco), I think he’s been outstanding and that’s what you want ultimately, you want competition for spots and no-one owns any Origin jersey. I just think it’s a good problem for Laurie (Daley) and the selectors … it’s not really my business.”
James Tedesco (pictured) put in a stellar performance to defeat the Dragons as he pushed for a NSW Blues jersey.
(Cameron Spencer via Getty Images)Laurie Daley weighs-in on fullback race
While Edwards and Tedesco are in a tussle for the No.1 jersey, it appears the Blues coach won’t select on reputation. Speaking last week, Daley suggested he will be picking on form in 2026 after a series loss last year.
And Edwards’ latest performance suggests it could be very hard to usurp him in the Origin arena. “He (Tedesco) and Dylan are both playing great, and Teddy was outstanding yesterday,” Daley said of last week’s performances. “Very rarely does he play poorly and that’s always a good sign for the Roosters and a good sign for New South Wales. You want people to be on their toes and you want them to be in form coming into Origin.”
Dylan Edwards (pictured) is pushing his case to retain the NSW Blues jersey.
(Darrian Traynor via Getty Images)
Although it is unlikely both will be in the squad. Speaking about the positional duel, Daley hinted both players are fullbacks and are unlikely to feature on the wing or on the bench as a utility during the series.
“I think they’re out-and-out fullbacks,” Daley said. There’s other players who have that flexibility, but those two guys I just see as being genuine No.1s.” Daley will also be looking at a number of other positions. Jacob Kiraz’s injury on the wing leaves one wing position wide open with Zac Lomax’s move to rugby union. Liam Martin’s injury also means there will likely be a second-row role up for grabs.