Latest news with #EthanStrange
ABC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- ABC News
Ahead of their greatest test, Ethan Strange has helped build Canberra's brave new world
Canberra has risen to the top of the NRL ladder on the back of a new generation but it could be the youngest among them who holds their premiership fate in his hands. Ethan Strange turned 21 over the club's bye weekend and the five-eighth is the youngest of the Raiders' regular first graders — even rookie dummy half Owen Pattie has a few months on him. He's young enough that his teammates call him "The Kid" and shake their heads at some of the things he does. Kaeo Weekes, who's pretty familiar with the spectacular himself, says Strange "just does whatever he wants on the field". Strange is young enough that he's never played against Penrith, who the Raiders will face in a blockbuster on Friday night, so all he knows about them is what he's seen and heard. He's young enough to have never played in a finals game, a run that will end in just a few weeks, and young enough that when he goes back home to the Central Coast he's still just one of the fellas. "A lot of my mates from back home don't really watch footy. Some of them won't even watch my games," Strange said. "It's really easy to stay grounded because they're not bothered about it, I go home and I'm never talking about footy. "I'm just the same old me cause of that, so shout out to those boys." It's a good thing that Strange has those old mates to keep him humble, because on the field he is soaring. His footwork and power make him a terror on the edge of the ruck, his toughness makes him a roughneck in the best sense of the word and, like any good Raider under Ricky Stuart, there are few problems he can't solve with a combination of focused aggression and a willingness to do whatever it takes. Strange's attacking stats in 2025 — through 21 games he has 11 tries, nine try assists, 14 line breaks, 11 line break assists and 71 tackle busts — don't just speak for themselves, they match up with some of Canberra's very best individual seasons of recent years. Jack Wighton, who Strange replaced at five-eighth at the beginning of last year, played 22 games in his Dally M season in 2020 for 13 tries, eight try assists, 11 line breaks, 14 line break assists and 66 tackle busts. There are similarities between the two — they both love the physical side of the game, an attribute Strange attributes to his father, Roosters NRLW and women's Blues coach John. "That's something the old man put into me. He coached me growing up and he was always big on being physical no matter where you play – in the halves or fullback or whatever, you always have to be physical," Strange said. Both Strange and Wighton have a left-foot step that cracks like a whip — the former's second try against Manly two weeks ago was straight out of the Wighton playbook — even though Strange is right-footed. But Strange is his own man and his own player, and now this is his time. In a sophomore season where he's improved with each game, he's been playing hard and direct and dangerously, and he's learning how to do it all the time. "I'm just trying to stay on the ball. Last year I could zone in and out of games, sometimes I'd be really involved and sometimes I wouldn't. This year I just try to stay consistent," Strange said. "There's been a lot more clarity about how we play and our attack. "I don't know why [I step off my left], I carry it left-handed as well but I'm right-handed and kick with my right. "A lot of the boys I grew up watching and who played here, like Blake Austin and Jack Wighton, they did the same, so maybe it comes from them." It can be easy for a Raider to fly under the radar but after the season they've had there's no escaping the limelight, especially for Strange. After his last game, a three-try effort against Manly, Stuart predicted he would make the Kangaroo tour and play State of Origin next year, which is saying something given how hard Stuart has worked all season to keep the Raiders young stars grounded. Strange didn't want to talk about it too much, other than affirming he would like to represent New South Wales and Australia ahead of New Zealand or England, given he's eligible for all three nations. But he did say that such praise meant more coming from Stuart than it would from anybody else. The two are close — Stuart wanted the Raiders to sign Strange based on just a couple of minutes of match footage and helped secure his signature by assuring Strange's parents he'd treat him like his own son. But there's much to do before Stuart's heady predictions are put to the test, starting with the match against Penrith in Mudgee, which shapes as a finals match in all but name. It's a big one for the young Raiders, who are 1-1 in their other matches against the top four this season but they're all big games from here on in as the club pushes for its first premiership in over three decades. A lack of experience in the finals has been tagged as Canberra's biggest weakness, but that freshness cuts both ways when it comes to a player like Strange. He is young enough that he's never played in games like this before, but by the same token, he's young enough that he's never been scarred by defeat or learned how to be afraid — which means he's fearless. There's an eagerness to the Raiders to lock horns with the best, the hunger of the rising contender with their eyes on the champion, and that comes through as Strange explains he doesn't find the challenges ahead intimidating, but exhilarating. "That's what I'm looking forward to, seeing how I go in those kind of situations," Strange said. "The Panthers know who they are. They're so good and thorough with their game plan and through that winning streak they've gone back to what they've been for so long. "I try not to think too much about the proportions or what's going on outside of the field because once you get out there it's another game. "When you're in a big game, like the ones we had against the Bulldogs or the Storm, it's still a game of footy."
ABC News
09-08-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
Matt Timoko: We knew we had to get more aggressive
After a surprise loss against the Dragons last weekend, Canberra bounced back in a fractious win over Manly. After a tough first half they asserted their dominance with a hat-trick to Ethan Strange the highlight. Centre Matt Timoko had another impressive match and he told Andrew Moore, Matthew Elliott and Michael Carayannis that after the loss in Wollongong they knew they had to up their levels of aggression - even if Corey Horsburgh has been keeping his in check most of the year.
Yahoo
08-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'He'll play for Australia': Stuart's not-so Strange tip
In an extraordinary show of support, Ricky Stuart is tipping "Laurie Daley-like" sensation Ethan Strange to wear the troublesome NSW State of Origin No.6 jumper in 2026. Unknown to most NRL fans before the season's start, Strange bagged a spectacular try-scoring hat-trick in Friday night's 28-12 win over Manly to lead the Raiders back to the top of the NRL ladder. But it wasn't merely the tries, but more the manner in which he scored them - and when - that drew lavish praise from his veteran coach. Watch all the highlights as the Raiders take on the Sea Eagles in Round 23! 🎥 — NRL (@NRL) August 8, 2025 After collecting Canberra's opening try in the 10th minute, Strange took the game by the scruff off the neck when the Raiders found themselves behind on the scoreboard midway through the second half. First he took on and beat the Manly defence to storm over in the 54th minute. Then Strange skilfully reeled in an audacious flick pass from coach Stuart's son Jed down the left wing to realistically put the game beyond Manly's reach. "He's got qualities of a representative player already as a young person, and I don't say that outlandishly," Stuart said. "For a young player such as Ethan to be able to give off energy to his teammates is similar to Laurie Daley when Laurie was a young player." With a favourable run home, Canberra are fast firming to claim their first premiership since Stuart and Daley were at the forefront of the legendary Green Machine that won three between 1989 and 1994. But Stuart is predicting even greater honours for Strange - and doesn't mind sharing his thoughts. "I've got a very strong opinion of where he's going to go as a player," the former Blues coach and premiership-winning mentor said. "You look at his game today to where he started with us a year and a half, two years ago, 25, 30 games into his career. "He's got an unbelievable future. I think he'll play for Australia this year and he'll be our next five-eighth for NSW. "And I don't sit here gloating. I don't sit here as a happy coach saying that. I firmly believe that. "He's got Origin attitude the way he defends, the way he runs the football. "He's got qualities of a representative player already as a young person and, as I say, I don't say that outlandishly." Stuart said he was unconcerned about placing such heady expectations on the young super talent. "I know I'm talking about big shoes to fill and (people will say), 'You're putting too much pressure on Ethan'. Bad luck, he'll handle it,'' the coach said. "If you're ever going to make it in this game, you've got to handle pressure, and he will." Raiders captain Joseph Tapine agrees Strange is something special. "He's strong as well," Tapine said. "And he's still young in his communication stage as well. When he starts to come out of his shell and open up and starts talking a bit more, it's going to go to another level. "So it's impressive where he is at the moment, but exciting where he can get to soon."
Yahoo
08-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Raiders down Manly, surge back to top of NRL ladder
The tantalising prospect of a retro Canberra-versus-Penrith grand final is gathering speed following the Raiders' rapid-fire return to the top of the NRL ladder. A try-scoring hat-trick from 20-year-old five-eighth Ethan Strange helped Ricky Stuart's relentless Raiders repel an ambush from Manly and add to the Sea Eagles' woes with a 28-12 win in chilly Canberra on Friday night. Rebounding from a shock first defeat in 10 starts last week against St George Illawarra, the Raiders' pivotal win knocked Melbourne off a perch the Storm only enjoyed for 24 hours after Thursday night's 22-2 triumph over Brisbane. Ethan Strange has a hat-trick! 🤯Telstra Moment of the Match — NRL (@NRL) August 8, 2025 With the purring Panthers entering the top four for the first time all season after extending their own mid-season winning run to nine games earlier on Friday with a 48-12 rout in Newcastle, fans are daring to dream of a repeat of the classic 1990 and 1991 title deciders. With a favourable run home, Canberra remain warm favourites to secure a first-week final in the national capital, quite possibly against the four-time defending premiers from Penrith. But Manly's troubles only deepen, especially for under-siege coach Anthony Seibold. After threatening to inflict a first-ever Friday night defeat on the Raiders in the freezing national capital in July or August, the Sea Eagles now need to win their last four games to have a hope of scraping into the finals. As well as potentially slipping two wins outside of the top eight with only four rounds remaining, Manly have also likely lost Jake Trbojevic for two games after their inspirational skipper suffered a category one concussion in a nasty second-half collision with Josh Papalii. Trbojevic's injury came in between the Raiders running in two tries in nine minutes to turn a precarious four-point lead into a match-winning buffer at GIO Stadium. A length-of-the-field team effort finished off by superstar fullback Tom Trbojevic in the third minute and a Tolutau Koula strike early in the second half had cancelled out Strange's opening five-pointer and one to slippery winger Xavier Savage. But that's when Strange took the game by the scruff off the neck. First he took on and beat the Manly defence to storm over in the 54th minute. Then Strange skilfully reeled in a spectacular flick pass from coach Stuart's son Jed down the left wing to realistically put the game beyond Manly's reach. The only concern for Canberra was hard-nosed lock Corey Horsburgh being placed on report for a senseless later shoulder charge on Manly hooker Jazz Tevaga.
Yahoo
07-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kevin Walters drops shock bolter for Aussie side as Latrell Mitchell in timely return
New Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters has dropped the first potential name who could be a surprise inclusion in his 22-man Ashes squad with NRL finals footy around the corner. Walters is already starting to break down certain selections for his Australian side that will take on England in the historic Ashes tour that gets underway at London's Wembley Stadium on October 25. Walters is waiting to find out to see if Payne Haas, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow are reportedly switching allegiances to Samoa after the NRL season. The new coach said he won't be selecting anyone who doesn't want to wear the green and gold for the squad as he looks to restore pride back into the jersey. And Walters has revealed he has his eye on Canberra five-eighth Ethan Strange after a stellar season so far. The Raiders playmaker has helped lead the team to top of the table through 22 rounds and has patrolled the left-side of the field for Ricky Stuart's team. Strange has long been tipped as a future State of Origin star, but it appears he might even get to tour England with the Australian squad sooner rather than later. Strange still lacks experience in the big games having never played finals footy. The Raiders are currently leading the ladder in 2025 and Strange will have a chance to prove why he is so highly-rated come finals time. And Walters is watching on eagerly having suggested a lot of his decisions could come down to how players, like Strange, perform under pressure. 'Finals football is tough because it's the next level,' Walters said on SEN Radio. 'The deeper you go, the more pressure there is on players and coaches. It exposes players to a good environment to test themselves and when we get to Wembley Stadium where there will be 60, 70 or even 80,000 people. We know how vocal English fans can be and how hostile an environment it is. "The current halves that we have from NSW and Queensland are elite and they are all available. (Strange) is certainly a player that could force themselves into the touring party. A young player like Strange coming through and having a terrific finals series. That could project him into a 22-man party.' Walters admitted one of his first jobs will be to get in front of the trio who are reportedly tossing up playing for Samoa, and figuring out if they are up for selection. One player he should be able to select is Latrell Mitchell after Wayne Bennett named the South Sydney Rabbitohs fullback in his latest squad. Latrell Mitchell nears Rabbitohs return Mitchell could be back earlier than expected this season after going down injured after Origin. Mitchell has missed the last five weeks with a quad injury, and wasn't expected back until Round 23 at the earliest. But the superstar fullback was named on the extended bench for the Rabbitohs' clash with the Titans in Round 22. Named in jersey 22, it means Mitchell could be a late inclusion in what would be a boost to Bennett's quest to avoid a first-ever wooden spoon. The late inclusion of Mitchell could see Jye Gray shift to the halves from fullback, although Mitchell could be utilised in the centres to replace Tallis Duncan. Depending on when Mitchell returns, Walters could have up to four games to get a glimpse of the South Sydney star's form before selecting his squad. Mitchell would be a huge inclusion for the Kangaroos having played all three State of Origin games for NSW in 2025 at centre.
