Born in Levin, New Zealand, Huddersfield’s Kenny Edwards didn’t make his debut until the age of 23 for Parramatta after his doing his services in the Under-20s competition. It was a debut he will remember for the rest of his life.

“Making my debut was unreal, you want something your whole life and dedicate your life to one thing and when you achieve it, it’s a humbling feeling,” Edwards told Everything Rugby League.

It’s not exactly been the most straight forward of careers for Edwards who, by his own admission, was forced to leave the NRL in 2018. It was a weird time for the forward, but things were resolved and Catalans and the south of France was his next destination.

“In 2018, I got in a bit of trouble and had to leave the NRL.

“My manager, who was over here for Magic Weekend at the time, came back to me with a couple of options and we narrowed it down to Warrington, Hull FC and Catalans.

“I went to France because of the visa situation as you didn’t need one to enter the country so that’s why I went there.”

It couldn’t have been better timing for both Edwards and the Dragons because that year the French club won the Challenge Cup for the first time, something which the entertaining forward will never forget.

“Winning the Challenge Cup and being the first French side to do it was a massive achievement.

“And, to be a part of the first Catalans team to win silverware is something I can always look back and be proud of!”

Edwards spent two years in Perpignan before moving to Huddersfield ahead of the 2020 season. The forward revealed how some people questioned his judgement, but that he now could not be happier.

“I am loving my time here at Huddersfield; some people thought I was crazy when I decided to leave the south of France and come to England, but I love it here.

“I’m a pretty simple fella and I enjoy the lifestyle, so it’s a really good fit.

“When I signed, they weren’t doing too well so I did think if I had made the right call, but getting a player like Aidan Sezer to come at the same time made a massive difference.

“I think as a club we took a massive step in the right direction last year with how we played.

“Adding a couple of players this year is only going to make us a better team. Ricky Leutele is an NRL Premiership winner and will give us some class out wide and I can’t wait to play alongside Josh Jones – he’s a tough cookie with a point to prove this year!”

At the age of 31, it’s perhaps fair to say that Edwards has learned from his past indiscretions in the NRL and that there’s one particular hero that stands out in helping him through the rocky times.

“I like to think I’ve grown as a person and as a father since my days in the NRL.

“I had a great role model in Brad Arthur who tried to keep me in line and I still talk to him about life to this day.

“You live and you learn and I’m learning every day and it is exactly the same on the field. I just try to get better every day!”