LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Hours before their crucial match against the Cronulla Sharks in the second week of the 2025 NRL Finals, the Canberra Raiders faced a significant setback as a key player was ruled out.
On Saturday morning, the club announced that five-eighth Ethan Strange would be sidelined due to illness.
In response, utility player Simi Sasagi will take Strange's place in the halves alongside Jamal Fogarty, while Matty Nicholson is set to join the team off the interchange bench.
Strange has been a standout performer for the Raiders this season, scoring six tries in his last four games and forming a potent partnership with Fogarty, which helped the team secure the Minor Premiership.
With 12 try assists and eight line-break assists to his name this season, his absence puts additional pressure on players like Kaeo Weekes to step up if the Raiders hope to advance to the Preliminary Final next week against the Melbourne Storm.