LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Dylan Edwards, the fullback for the Penrith Panthers, has once again been overlooked for representative honours, causing outrage among fans and experts.
Described as the "unluckiest player ever," Edwards has consistently put out outstanding performances, yet he continues to be snubbed for NSW and Australian teams.
Despite being in the same era as renowned fullbacks like James Tedesco, Kalyn Ponga, Reece Walsh, and Latrell Mitchell, Edwards' contribution to the game cannot be denied.
His ability to rack up impressive run metres sets him apart from his competitors.
In the 2023 season alone, Edwards averaged a remarkable 207m per game, accumulating a total of 5390m.
This places him more than 700m ahead of his closest rival, Brian To'o, who is also a teammate at the Panthers.
Edwards' dominance in this aspect of the game is not a recent phenomenon.
He led the running metres in both 2022 and 2021, with 5578m and 4059m respectively.
Even in 2021, when he played only 21 games, Edwards managed to secure a spot in the top five for running metres.
The continuous snubbing of such a talented player has been called a "deadset travesty" by critics, who argue that Edwards deserves his chance to represent his state and country.