Adrian Proszenko SEPTEMBER 8 2017 - 3:54PM  SMH

Kenny Edwards brings both the X-factor and why-factor for Parramatta.

There is nothing predictable about Edwards. At a time when the majority of the NRL's elite are built the same, talk the same and play an almost identical brand of footy, Edwards provides a point of difference

Personality player: There's no predicting what Parramatt's Kenny Edwards will do.Personality player: There's no predicting what Parramatt's Kenny Edwards will do. Photo: AAP

There is good different; the cheeky offload, that crabbing cross-field run that puts defences in two minds or that massive hit when he rushes up in defence to lift his team. There's also bad different; the penalties conceded, passes that hit turf or other manifestations of "Bad Kenny".

On balance, there is much more good than bad, although no one really knows to expect at any given time. Which is what makes Edwards such a dangerous proposition for opponents. It may just be one of his moments of magic or madness that turns the game against a Melbourne side that has little trouble shutting down the formulaic attack that is often thrown at it. 

"That's my role, to bring energy to the side," Edwards said.

"Playing 80 minutes, I don't like that. The coach gives me the role to come off the bench and bring energy. Hopefully I can come out and do that against Melbourne.

"I tend to give a few penalties away, but it's just the way I play. The coach had a few words to me, but the main thing is that I play what's in front of me, I play hard.

Eels fans know all the Edwards moves. The "Kenny cramps", which only seem to strike when the clock is ticking down and his team is in front. The post-try celebrations that not only incorporate his teammates but also the opposition. The way one of the NRL's few personality players gets under the skin of his rivals.

"With all of that stuff, there's never been any restraint on me," Kenny said of coach Brad Arthur.

"He knows that's part of my game and lets me play my own game.

"If that means I can get under the skin of other players and get them off their game, then that's it."

The Eels are given little chance against short-priced premiership favourites Melbourne. Which is just the way Edwards likes it.

"This will be my first finals series, it will be the first for a lot of us," Edwards said.

"We did a promo during the week, there was about six of us, and they asked us what was our best finals moment.

"We were looking at each other, none of us had played finals except for Jenko [Michael Jennings], so it was 'let's leave this to Jenko, see you later'.

"I'm enjoying the ride. We're pumped. With inexperience comes excitement and we're all excited."

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  • Oh god please
  • Kenny is awesome



    I know i give sportman shit for his fanboy lovefest he has for kenny


    But Kenny is great
    • If he has brain diarrhoea I will HUNT HIM
      DOWN MY FRIENDS!!!!!
  • We need to get under there skin too win unsettled them go kenny we need this to win exactly like against the broncos this is the only way we will win imo
    • To a point , we will unsettle if we come out hard fast and unsettle their rhythm . Mistakes are not included in the package
  • Just dont go for any imbecilic intercepts on your own line unless we are caught short in defence and its a must Kenny, thats just stupid and could literally cost us a game.

    And dont do anything thats going to cost you a suspension in the final series, you are too important to lose.

  • lol

  • Like that Kenny sees the funny side of the finals inexperience thing...best finals moment? Leave that to Jenkio see ya later haha.
    I'm an unabashed Kenny fan, but watch out Kenny they will push you and they are experts...think Broncos rematch and alls well.
  • Lots of people have been calling Kenny the reason Parra can beatvthe Storm one of the loudest has been Mark Geyer
    • But some fans here reckon he is too big a risk Dave haha. Bennett definitely recognised Kenny as the danger and worked hard on that :)
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