THE CHALKBOARD: KENNY EDWARDS

What will the King bring to his subjects in Huddersfield? The Chalkboard investigates...

ALL

HAIL

THE

KING 

👑

Welcome to King Kenny, master of his domain, fresh from a victorious campaign in the South of France. 

The barnstorming back-rower has joined the Giants from the 2020 season and will look to help guide the team back to play-off contention next season, here we will break down just a couple of moments that made him so vital to the Catalans Dragons early play-off push in 2019.

Rewind to March and we were just over a month into the season, and the early favourites St. Helens and Warrington were on the march and looked untouchable, but the Wire had to travel to France, in a game where Sam Tomkins to all the plaudits but Mr. Edwards was essential in creating time on the left edge.

In the opening exchanges Edwards look threatening hitting a good line with power and trying to soften the right edge of Warrington, and as the game developed the weaknesses in that right edge started to become apparent, and with the score 6-0 to Catalans, Kenny got the chance he deserved.   

It was a hard slog to make the Wire defence crack over the game, and it can be seen in this short range effort. The defence looking almost too compact and the option to Tomkins looks pleasing but Gigot backs his forward and tips on to Edwards, who’s line is perfect onto the inside shoulder of Blake Austin and nobody can stop the King. Similar to the lines Alex Mellor has run for the club this year, Kenny will be looking for these opportunities all season, and his commanding figure will demand the ball. 

In July as the business end of the season started to become too close for some clubs, Catalans started to waver and needed a response against a Wakefield side also starting to struggle. Catalans and Edwards were immense and took no prisoners, knowing the win could well be vital for their play-off hopes - that wasn’t to be but the effort on show nobody could fault.

Just one minute before Edwards was join the scoresheet, he produced an offload that is token, and some of the style we can expect to see next season. Seemingly wrapped up, he uses his strength to escape the wrap up and twist his body to offload around the back of the defender and straight into the hands of Sam Tomkins.

One minute later, Gigot finds the short ball again but this time the line isn’t as swift, but Edwards takes on Pauli Pauli, and shrugs him off to walk over the try line and score his second try of the season. Again adding to the palette, the ability to take on men bigger and come out on top is a gritty asset that will be vital to the play-off push for the Giants.   

In defence, all season, Huddersfield have be known to struggle. We have ourselves spoke about errors that cost the Giants defensively and although errors may come into Edwards robust style, what you will not lack is the passion to rectify any mistake, and the aggressive to shut teams down in defence. 

Amongst Catalans many traits, has always been the tough dogged defence that we love to watch when it’s hot, and Edwards will certainly bring some of those styles in his game, which will only add to Ta’ai, Lawrence and Matagi’s strengths and - hopefully - see the side come on, leaps and bounds, next season.

 As for now we will welcome Kenny Edwards to the club, the newest Giant, LONG LIVE THE KING