In 2019 when the Panthers made their now annual trip to Bathurst, Edwards was looking forward to a big game against NRL heavyweights the Melbourne Storm.

However, it turned into a horror evening. He put down six balls, two of which directly led to tries, lost the ball to Cameron Munster in a one-on-one strip and when chasing a James Maloney kick to try and score, made another error.

The Panthers lost the match 32-2 and shortly after Edwards was dropped to reserve grade.

But that nightmare night in Bathurst made Edwards realise he needed to make changes to his mental approach. He's worked on that and it's undoubtedly made him a better footballer.

"That was a difficult game for me personally, but hopefully I'm better for it," the now 25-year-old said.

"I just had to change the way I went about the game mentally I think, I just had to put a few things in place that helped me get through setbacks on the field and off the field.

"It took me awhile to get my head around it, but eventually it definitely did give me a better way to look at things.

"I was just little things like staying present, things like that, not trying to focus on what's just happened. Pretty cliched stuff it sounds like, but it is what helps."

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This Saturday night Edwards will return to Carrington Park for the first time since that Storm match. He and his Panthers will be looking to build on their unbeaten start to the season when hosting Manly.

It will be Edwards' fifth appearance of the season - a broken hand sidelined him late last month - but he's been one of the stars in a talent packed Panthers side. He's scored two tries, made 23 tackle breaks and averages 117 running metres per match.

Still, Manly has won three games on the trot and he says "they're a different side" to the one the Panthers trounced in round four.

"They're a good footy side at the moment, they're playing some top quality football. Obviously with the addition of Tom at the back there he's lifted a lot of people around him and they've just got confidence now too," he said.

"We know we're in for a really tough game."

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