Penrith cult hero Scott Sattler knew Dylan Edwards was destined to produce something special on Sunday night.
And Edwards did, producing an inspirational try-saving tackle on Parramatta flyer Bailey Simonsson that evoked memories of Sattler’s own effort on Roosters winger Todd Byrne 19 years earlier.
“Someone asked me during the week if there was one player who was going to come up with as big moment, I actually said ‘I think it will be Dylan Edwards because he’s the hardest worker’,” Sattler said during a break in commitments with SEN at Sydney Olympic Park.
“He’s one who always turns up when you need him, and he didn’t disappoint tonight.
“The tackle itself was perfect execution. Like all the great fullbacks in the past, Billy [Slater] was the same where he’d corner them to a point where he knew he just had to accelerate, and the next part was a formality.
“He executed it perfectly, and on a real speedster, too.
Dylan Edwards was sensational for Penrith.Credit:Getty Images
“I’m excited it was another Penrith player who came up with a really big moment like that.
“It’s outstanding, and one for the hard workers. He’s flown under the radar for so long, now he’s getting the plaudits he deserves. “Dylan was the last line of defence, and if he doesn’t get there, Bailey Simonsson scores.”
Edwards threw his body into Simonsson and dragged him into touch.
The Panthers crowd went wild as the Panthers players quickly swamped their eventual Clive Churchill Medal winner.
Even coach Ivan Cleary showed some rare emotion and punched the air with joy.
Poor Simonsson had to leave the field with his left arm in a sling and there were reports he heard a “pop”.
The Sattler tackle was inspirational and still gives Panthers fans goosebumps.
You can only imagine, in this era of social media, how many times Edwards’ effort would have been circulated before the Panthers’ faithful had made it back home along the M4 Motorway.
Sattler said the best moment about his slice of history was the reaction from his teammates on the night.
“One of my vivid memories of that is not the incident itself, it is actually the teammates’ reaction after it,” Sattler said.
“You see how much it lifts the side. Even though they are winning comprehensively and not going to win the game, he is not resting on his laurels. His teammates just know how important he is.”
Edwards finished with 22 runs for 228m to be named man of the match. While Edwards attracts few accolades outside the foot of the mountains, make no mistake about him being one of the most loved men at the club. He even won the Merv Cartwright Medal in a landslide last month.
Andrew Johns, and not for the first time, asked why Edwards was not included in the Kangaroos’ World Cup debate. In any other era – with no James Tedesco, Latrell Mitchell, Tom Trbojevic or Ryan Papenhuyzen – Edwards would stroll into any representative team.
Sattler agreed and said he simply deserved a trip to England because of his fantastic year.
“Mal [Meninga] has been waxing lyrical about him and I just think you take him as reward for the last three years he has had,” Sattler said.
“Take him for the experience. Like when he took Braith Anasta away in 2000 when he was a young 20-year-old … you take them because they deserve it.”
