Ken Edwards - why the hate? - Eels Blogs

Here is a player who plays with his heart on his sleeve every minute he is on the field.He plays aggressively on both sides of the ball and is very hard to handle at the best of times for any opposition players attempting to tackle him.His combination of size, strength and footwork combined with agility and ball playing ability make him a true game breaker and all opposition coaches would certainly be wary of what he brings to the game.This blog is inspired by all the hate on social media, all the vilifying articles written by mainstream media and all the derogatory comments made by highly respected commentators such as Warren and Voss about a so-called "dog act" made by Edwards during the Broncos game on Friday night.I've watched and rewatched that tackle and the preceding "high" shot by Brown.It went like this;Pearson gets the ball and slips as Brown attempts a tackle.Brown's right hand slips up off Pearson's right forearm and grazes his head.Pearson falls over for the thousandth time that game (what was wrong with his boots??)Brown has fallen off and the tackle is incomplete.The same second that Pearson falls over Edwards and Alvaro arrive in cover defence to complete the tackle.Edwards doesn't know that Pearson may be injured (he wasn't!) and there is a very real opportunity for Pearson to get up and run and for Edwards to effect a dominant tackle and attempt to win possession with a solid hit on a vulnerable attacker.Edwards and Alvaro land on Pearson almost simultaneously.Edwards lands with his right shoulder on Pearson's left upper ribs and chest.Broncos take exception.The media take the opportunity to create and jump on an Edwards hating bandwagon.The rest is history.Tony Webeck condemned Edwards in an article on NRL.com this morning, Voss did the same yesterday.The media loves to hate us because we sell their stories.They ride on the back of the Parramatta Eels because any article written about our team will attract huge interest.I call the media out as cowards and sensationalists.Edwards, you are a champion!

"Risati won't be a centre. He will be in the halves for sure. Cant say who will be better out of the 2 since Lorenzo has barely played cup whilst Risati is only playing SG balll for the first time next year. Must see them when they are consistently…"

"I'm not suggesting throwing Lorenzo or any other young player in there now, they aren't ready, my point is they still won't be ready for a start in 2027 either so are we going to sign another 1 year stop gap 6 for 2027?."

"Thanks KN/ EA. Just checking my gut feeling. Hopefully, he stays & makes good on his potential. I like his upside: footy nous, big body, kicking game, goal-kicker. Ain't many sixes offering all that. He's called by many in RU as a "Sua'ali'i clone…"

Replies

Evil Elvis July 31, 2017 at 8:06am

I think you will find it is frustration rather then hate. Kenny has the ability to be one of the best however his brain snaps are going to cost the Eels one day.
I personally think you need to take your Eels glasses off as well, for that tackle was pretty grubby. If that was an Eels player on the receiving end, we would all be calling for blood.
Robisms July 31, 2017 at 8:08am

Please, Elvis, rewatch the footage and listen to Gould.

Better still, watch it with the sound off.
- Evil Elvis > Robisms July 31, 2017 at 8:17am
  
  Yeah, I know Gus said it wasn't illegal, however dropping a shoulder into someone laying on the ground is not cool.
- RV > Robisms July 31, 2017 at 8:31am
  
  The reality is he is now well and truly going to be on the NRL radar and is going to have to find a way to cut out the snaps - on and off the field.
  
  If you want him on the field then we are better off getting him to make some adjustments rather than trying to make excuses.
- RV > Robisms July 31, 2017 at 8:49am
  
  We can all micro analyse it - but the reason for the reaction from parra fans is that it comes after a series of on and off field snaps. Stripping penalities, head taps and slaps - one thing after another. I think he's a great player I just want him to focus on necessary parts of his game.
- christeel > Robisms July 31, 2017 at 4:16pm
  
  Yeah !!! And furthermore thats what he gets for milking ( Pearson )..lol
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 July 31, 2017 at 8:11am

Everyone loves Kenny, he's a winner, and is multi talented. He still can rein in a couple of loose ends and has improved over the past few weeks.
This reply was deleted.
- Robisms July 31, 2017 at 8:17am
  
  Fair enough.
  
  However, he should not have been cited for this one.
- Parrakeet July 31, 2017 at 10:02am
  
  I didn't like it because the player was on the ground a simple flop would have sufficed. This happened last year to someone who was severely hurt. He was trying to hurt him and he was lying on the ground. Different ballgame running at the tryline but I have always like my footy fair.
FME July 31, 2017 at 8:19am

Kenny couldn't give 2 hoots about people who don't like him. He will play the way he has always played and so he should. The guy is a champion.