The Catalans ace is very much the villain to St Helens fans after he was fined for an incident that saw a young girl hit by a ball during the recent Challenge Cup semi-final.
Now they go head-to-head again in Super League today, some sections still want the back-rower banned.
And Edwards is adamant that he would never chuck a ball deliberately, but is stunned at the ‘disgusting’ abuse he has received from ‘bitter’ people.
He said: “I’m used to being the villain back home but I can’t believe some of the abuse I’ve received from fans over here. The boys warned me about it but it’s disgusting.
“I’m still not sure what happened. I threw the ball off the field to gain some time after we’d scored a try and some fans, maybe because they were bitter they’d lost, said I deliberately threw it at a child.
“I would never do that. I’m a father, if I thought that’s what had happened I would have been the first to apologise and bring the child, or the woman, into the club for some tickets and club gear.
“Some of the stuff I’ve heard on the pitch and seen on social media since then has been unbelievable. It’s a massive shock, there’s nothing like that down under.
“Super League put a photo of me up on Instagram and people were calling me a monster. I know fans are passionate over here but there’s a difference between passion and some of the spiteful, stupid comments I’ve seen.”
Edwards also slammed the hostility from fans came at Leeds in June, when he and his team-mates had been “pushed around” and spat upon while walking from the changing rooms to the pitch.
The 28-year-old Kiwi added: “That was the worst experience of my career, fans were allowed to spit on us and some of my team-mates were shoved around. It’s just wrong.”
Edwards does not only have a problem with the attitude of some fans – some officials also get his goat after experiencing standards in the NRL.
He said: “I don’t know if these guys are professional or amateur but the players do not know where they stand.
“Every game is different, it is so inconsistent. And the touch judges – I’ve never heard them say a word yet. Some of them I’m sure have been kids.
“You might get one good ref, then the next wouldn’t even make park rugby back home. I’m enjoying my footy. It’s just the hostility and the standard of refereeing that has shocked me.”
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