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Incumbent NSW fullback Dylan Edwards has sent a timely reminder of his State of Origin credentials by inspiring red-hot Penrith to a 44-12 thrashing of Newcastle at McDonald Jones Stadium.<\/p>\n
Less than 24 hours after nearest Origin challenger James Tedesco starred for the Sydney Roosters on Anzac Day, Edwards scored a first-half hat-trick on Sunday to ensure the premiership favourites remained atop the ladder.<\/p>\n
The win puts paid to any concerns over Penrith\u2019s past fortnight, when the Panthers fell to patchy Canterbury and then squeaked past the 12th-placed Dolphins.<\/p>\n
But on Sunday, the Panthers recaptured their brutal best and dominated their hosts.<\/p>\n
Tom Jenkins\u2019 remarkable streak of try-scoring doubles ended at seven games, with Penrith\u2019s left winger unable to find the chalk against his former club.<\/p>\n
![\"Hat-trick](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/a980c39a69c5b69e235c90574bc1b25d8522aea1.jpeg\")
Hat-trick hero Dylan Edwards.Getty Images<\/p>\n
Edwards had no such problems against the Knights.<\/p>\n
Coach Ivan Cleary said his veteran custodian had continued to evolve his game, but conceded Edwards faced fierce competition for the Blues No.1 jersey from Tedesco.<\/p>\n
\u201cDyl\u2019s just everywhere all the time, he\u2019s had a great season, does so much work, and some of the quality today as well \u2013 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,\u201d Cleary said.<\/p>\n
\u201cTeddy [Tedesco], I think he\u2019s been outstanding and that\u2019s what you want ultimately, you want competition for spots and no-one owns any Origin jersey.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just think it\u2019s a good problem for Laurie [Daley] and the selectors … it\u2019s not really my business.\u201d<\/p>\n
Newcastle did well to weather an early Penrith onslaught, but the levee broke in the 13th minute, with Edwards skipping between Fletcher Hunt and Sandon Smith on the fifth tackle.<\/p>\n
The error-prone Knights took 15 minutes to play the ball in the Panthers\u2019 half, but in that first set Hunt spilt the ball and Edwards scooped it up.<\/p>\n
The fullback ran 65 metres for his second try.<\/p>\n
Edwards had his second NRL hat-trick inside 20 minutes of game time when a Moses Leota break put the Panthers in position for another attacking raid.<\/p>\n
Again, it was the fullback on the end of offloads from Lindsay Smith and Isaah Yeo.<\/p>\n
![\"Knights](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/516ef70d665d6f87afd3a5416d548888f5dea103.jpeg\")
Knights winger Dom Young braces for contact on Sunday.NRL Photos<\/p>\n
Marquee man Dylan Brown looked the likeliest to inspire a Knights comeback, sprinting 60 metres for a brilliant individual try.<\/p>\n
But Edwards put the result beyond doubt, throwing a cut-out pass for Brian To\u2019o to score the first of his two tries and give the visitors a four-score lead with 15 minutes to play.<\/p>\n
![\"Jarome](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/e38fc9ac7ca6da2180293aafafa67360fc16543b.jpeg\")
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