Canberra Raiders will enter a crucial semifinal against the Cronulla Sharks without their key player, Ethan Strange, who has been ruled out due to illness. Strange’s unexpected departure leaves a big hole for the Raiders to fill. They are not going to let themselves be taken out of the finals in straight sets. That decider will be played in a neutral venue in Canberra, with the victor earning a berth in the preliminary final next Friday.
Closer to home, defensive back Ethan Strange’s health suddenly worsened overnight, forcing him out of the much-anticipated game against his home state. His creativity from the cushions has been key to the Raiders’ impressive success, and he’s found himself at the centre of the play. Without him, the team’s chances in the knockout stage have been severely hurt. Strange’s experience and skill have been instrumental throughout the season, and his departure raises concerns about Canberra’s offensive strategy.
Simi Sasagi Steps Up
In lieu of Strange’s departure, the dynamic Simi Sasagi will step in to play in the halves. Leaning on us from the back, Sasagi has only played a handful of games in the NSW Cup. Now, he faces an intimidating uphill climb as he steps into this crucial new position. Despite his limited experience at the first-grade level, he is eager to make an impact alongside another teammate in the halves.
Sasagi’s inexperience could be a key difficulty for the Raiders as they head into a high-octane semifinal matchup. While he has shown promise in the lower grades, he has never started a first-grade game in the halves before. The coaching staff remains hopeful that his fresh perspective and energy will resonate with the team and help them maintain focus against a formidable opponent.
Changes to the Lineup
The Raiders will have their halfback situation turned on its head and their bench reshuffled too. Matty Nicholson will come onto the bench in lieu of Sasagi, providing extra depth to the squad. Danny Levi promoted to 18th man. This decision provides the team more flexibility should any adjustments be required by kickoff.
So as Canberra come into this important match against ladder leader Cronulla, each change counts. The Raiders need to look past these distractions and focus on the game ahead if they want to build their chances at the NRL finals. The match will be broadcast at 7:50 PM AEST across NSW, ACT, Queensland, Victoria, and Tasmania.
