Edwards (43) was born in Liverpool and that remains her favourite football team.
But on the bowling green she is proud to swap the red Liverpool jersey for the black uniform with the white silver fern.
Edwards, a sales representative from Nelson, first played international bowls in 2001 and is now ranked top in the world.
She has won six world titles - World Bowls pairs (2004, 2008), world indoor singles (2009, 2010, 2012), world champion of champions singles (2011) - and a gold medal in the pairs at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
Her main target this year is the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
''No, I don't set myself to win gold medals,'' Edwards said. ''I have my big audacious goal. If all the stars are aligned, obviously that's gold.
''I'm a bit different with my goal-setting. I set goals a little bit backwards.''
Her target for the Commonwealth Games is to qualify in two events.
''If I qualify I re-set my goals. If you're always aiming for gold you're going to be disappointed a fair bit,'' Edwards said.
''I never take selection for granted. The one time I did I got left out of the team.''
Edwards is keen to play in the pairs at Glasgow with her old mate, Val Smith. They won the gold medal at the 2008 World Bowls.
Edwards has vast experience and knows what international bowls is all about.
''Having been there it is easier to accept what happens,'' she said.
''But I would get a bit frustrated if I didn't do it again.
''I have the realisation that I can compete at that level. It is just a matter of getting the consistency to do it again.''
Edwards knows what is required to stay at the top.
''Natural ability is part of it but a lot of hard work is also needed,'' she said.
''It all goes back to putting the hours in beforehand.''
Bowls, more than most sports, is a mental game.
''We all struggle with that aspect of the game,'' Edwards said.
''If you can get that side of the game sorted it becomes a little bit easier.''
She uses the technique of forgetting the bad bowl.
''If you play a bad bowl and keep thinking about it is like picking it up and putting it in a back pack,'' Edwards said.
''Sooner or later it just weighs you down.
''I don't have a problem with people showing body language and emotions as long as they can let it go before the next bowl.
''Body language shows that it means something and that you're not happy with an average bowl. But before the next bowl it is all gone and you are positive and focused again.''
Edwards took a sabbatical from elite bowls for 14 months after the 2008 World Bowls in Christchurch and only played four events in that time.
''It refreshed me,'' Edwards said.
''I have always been a very good trainer and it got to a point that I was struggling to go out and practise.
''I was young enough to take a year off and then fight my way back to get back into the team.
''It worked wonders, refreshed me, and got a few more years out of me at the top.''
She has not had another break since coming back.
''No, it's been pretty full on since then,'' she said.
''I would take another break if I felt that things were getting a bit hard again and I didn't have the same passion. I don't see any problem in having a wee break.''
The break in 2008 confirmed some things in Edwards' mind.
''If you're not missing bowls it is probably time to get out,'' she said.
''If you are missing bowls get back in and have a crack.''
She admitted that there was no guarantee that she would return to bowls after a year off.
''It gave me a chance to reassess things,'' she said.
''I asked myself if I still wanted to play for New Zealand and the answer was yes.''
Edwards has a different role in the New Zealand team now.
''My role is to pass on my experience to those who want to listen and want to learn,'' she said. Other important events for Edwards this year are the transtasman series against Australia and the World Cup indoors in Sydney in early April.
At a glance: Joe Edwards
Age: 43.
Home town: Nelson.
Husband: Dave.
Occupation: Sales representative.
Record
National: NZ champion, singles (2011), pairs (2004, 2008), inter-centre (2011).
International: Gold medals World Bowls pairs (2004, 2008), world indoor singles (2009, 2010, 2012), world champion of champions singles (2011); Commonwealth Games gold medal pairs (2002).
