But Raiders prop Dane Tilse said the game’s new concussion policy would face its biggest test when it comes to key players being dazed during finals football at the end of the year.

The Raiders have stood down Edwards from Saturday's match against his former club the Newcastle Knights at Canberra Stadium, despite the tough 25-year-old claiming he has “felt great” since being knocked out in last weekend’s loss to the Penrith Panthers.

Edwards was stretchered from the field in a neck brace in the sixth minute after making contact with the shoulder of Penrith’s Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, his second concussion within a week.

He admitted he had wanted to play on, but Raiders medical staff would not contemplate it and even refused to administer the sideline test for concussion.

"I came round pretty quickly after the hit,'' Edwards said. ''I had no symptoms afterwards and I've felt great ever since.

"I trust the medical staff here and they've made the right call. A footy player's natural instinct is to get up and to get back for his team, and I was no different.

"It's disappointing not to be able to play against the old club, but there's always next week.

''The Canberra Raiders have been great. They've been understanding and very supportive. There's been no pressure to play, it's more about the player's welfare and that's paramount.''

Edwards is aiming to return for the game against the Melbourne Storm on Easter Sunday, provided he passes the necessary tests.

The Bulldogs have been fined $20,000 this week for not adhering to concussion rules, failing to take Josh Jackson from the field in their round-two win against the Sharks.

Tilse said the NRL had showed it was taking concussion seriously, but the true test would be in the finals when a team's season is on the line.

"If you get to a semi-final and one of your key players - like a half or a full-back who you're paying big money to win you the game - goes down, it's going to be a talking point at the back end of the year,'' Tilse said. "We've seen guys with head injuries, it is serious.

''I played with [former Raiders and Dragons forward] Josh Miller and he was one of the toughest blokes getting around. To see him getting so many head knocks at the back end of his career, it was pretty scary.

''They [the NRL] are going in the right direction, but there could be massive dramas if a key player goes down in the finals. They will have to keep tinkering with it and hopefully they can sort it out.''

Edwards said changes to the rules in recent years decreased the chances of having long-term problems caused by concussions, such as those suffered by past enforcers Ian Roberts and Mario Fenech.

"I think the game's come a long way since those blokes played,''' Edwards said. ''There's a lot of things outlawed from rugby league to make it a much safer and family-friendly game.

''I think about that sort of thing, but I'm not worried that I'll have adverse effects from concussion.''