The Canberra Raiders open their 2026 NRL season this Saturday night at 4 Pines Park against the Manly Sea Eagles.
Canberra will debut a new halves combination of Ethan Strange and Ethan Sanders.
Kaeo Weekes and Tom Starling complete the spine for the Green Machine.
Manly's recruit Jamal Fogarty returns to face his former club as he links with Daly Cherry-Evans' replacement Brooks in the halves.
Tom Trbojevic will captain the Sea Eagles from fullback.
The Raiders defeated Manly 28-12 at GIO Stadium in round 25 of the 2025 season.
This opening round also features a mouthwatering showdown between superstar fullbacks Weekes and Trbojevic.
Weekes switched to Canberra in 2024 after 12 appearances for Manly and quickly secured the No.1 jersey.
He claimed the club's Coaches' Award and enjoyed a breakout 2025 with 11 tries and seven try assists.
Weekes averaged about 157 running metres per game, regularly using his pace and footwork to trouble opponents.