Dylan Edwards’ Unshakable Position as NSW Fullback
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary is confident that Dylan Edwards will remain the first-choice fullback for New South Wales in the State of Origin series. He believes Edwards has done nothing to jeopardize his position in the Blues’ No.1 jersey, despite the strong competition from James Tedesco.
Laurie Daley, the NSW mentor, now faces a tough decision on who should fill the fullback role after the upcoming Magic Round. Both Edwards and Tedesco have been performing exceptionally well in the NRL, with each making significant contributions to their respective teams.
Edwards demonstrated his value in the Panthers’ 30-18 win against Canberra, where he recorded 238 run metres and eight tackle busts. His performance was a clear statement of why he should be the starting fullback for the Blues.
Tedesco, on the other hand, delivered an impressive display for the Sydney Roosters against Gold Coast. He scored two tries, set up Rob Toia for the opening try, and accumulated 227 metres. His consistent form has made him a formidable contender for the fullback spot.
Despite Tedesco’s outstanding performances, Cleary remains firm in his belief that Edwards is the right choice. He praised Edwards’ performance in Canberra, calling it “outstanding.”
“It’s a good problem. Dylan is in incredible form, and I’ve seen him play at his best, and he’s pretty close to it,” Cleary said. “If we’re talking about taking Dylan Edwards out of the Origin team, then geez, it must be going well. I’ll just say that. Teddy is playing incredibly; he always has, but there was a decision made for Dylan to come in, in place of him, and since then, he hasn’t done much wrong.”
Tedesco lost the starting fullback jersey in 2024 when then-coach Michael Maguire opted for Edwards due to his consistent form and crucial role in Penrith’s premiership success. However, Tedesco stepped in during the series opener after Edwards was injured before the Panthers star resumed his position in game two.
Cleary highlighted Edwards’ importance in helping NSW win the series, noting that he was awarded man of the match in game three. He also pointed out that Edwards put in another solid performance last year.
However, Edwards faced a dip in form towards the end of 2025 while playing for Penrith. Cleary attributed this to the challenges of recovering from shoulder surgery in late 2024.
“He came off the back of shoulder surgery (in late 2024), so I probably pushed him too early, and he struggled a bit,” Cleary explained. “He still ended up playing in a prelim. He was a huge part of our team and made the Australian team. He’s been one of our best three players every week. Have I talked him up enough?”
Nathan Cleary, the NSW halfback, also supports Edwards’ position as the starting fullback. He emphasized that every week, he has no doubt that Edwards will be a vital contributor to the Penrith team.
