LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
In a shocking turn of events, Dylan Edwards, the Penrith Panthers' fullback, almost lost his place in the team after a disastrous performance against the Storm in Bathurst, as reported by news.com.au.
Despite his teammates now hailing him as the best fullback in the game, just four years ago, Edwards' future with the Panthers seemed uncertain after a horror show against the Storm.
The freezing night in Bathurst saw Penrith being dominated 32-2 by a relentless Storm side, making Edwards' life a living hell.
Although Edwards managed to make his usual 168 meters with the ball, he struggled in the slippery conditions and committed six errors, two of which resulted in Storm tries.
The Storm's Cameron Munster stripped the ball off Edwards twice and made two kicks that were fumbled, leading to tries for the star five-eighth and halves partner Brodie Croft.
Reflecting on that night, Edwards said, "It was a tough night and it was a night I hadn't ever experienced on a footy field." However, he also acknowledged that it provided him with the tools to handle setbacks and made him mentally tougher, which proved crucial for his career progression.