Canberra’s hopes of keeping their NRL finals campaign alive have taken a major hit, with star five-eighth Ethan Strange ruled out of the semifinal clash against Cronulla.
Strange, who has been enjoying a breakout season, fell ill overnight and will be replaced in the halves by utility Simi Sasagi. While Sasagi has impressed this year, he has never started a first-grade game in the halves, having only filled the role in a handful of NSW Cup appearances.
The reshuffle sees English recruit Matty Nicholson added to the bench, while Danny Levi has been promoted to 18th man. Strange’s absence is a significant setback for the Raiders, with the playmaker widely regarded as a frontrunner for five-eighth of the year at the upcoming Dally M Awards. His running game and knack for finding the tryline have been central to Canberra’s rise this season.
The pressure now falls heavily on halfback Jamal Fogarty to ignite the Raiders’ attack, particularly after concerns over his performance in last week’s qualifying final loss to Brisbane.
The setback comes on the back of injury concerns for another key player, Josh Papalii, who was managed carefully in the lead-up to the finals. Coach Ricky Stuart had expressed confidence on Friday morning that his side would be at full strength, but the late withdrawal of Strange has left the Raiders facing a daunting challenge against a Sharks outfit in strong form.
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