Canberra Raiders young gun Ethan Strange is doing everything he can to be fit for next week's State of Origin decider. Strange was seen wearing a moon boot at NSW Blues camp in Kingscliff on Thursday night, having rolled his ankle at training earlier in the day.
Precautionary Measures
The Blues told The Canberra Times on Friday no decision had been made about Strange's availability for the Origin III decider at Lang Park on Wednesday night. But Matt Burton has been brought into the squad for cover if the Raiders five-eighth is ruled out. The Blues said Strange's moon boot was precautionary and designed to give the 21-year-old the best chance to be fit to face Queensland.
Strange also reportedly used a Game Ready machine to ice his ankle on Thursday. It is a similar machine to that used by Josh Papali'i when the veteran prop rolled his ankle ahead of last year's NRL finals series. He used it around the clock to be fit for the Green Machine's qualifying final.
Strange's Confidence
Strange was confident he would be fit to take his place on the Blues bench next week. "I just rolled it - I should be sweet," he told The Sydney Morning Herald. NSW teammate Liam Martin was also confident the young playmaker would play. "Ankles are a funny thing - they can feel like the worst things in the world when you do them, but in two or three days you realise you can run and strap them up," Martin said. "I'm not a doctor, but I'm backing Strangey to be right. He's a tough cookie and if anyone can get through it, I'm sure he will."
Racing the Origin Clock
Canberra Raiders young gun Ethan Strange is racing the clock to be fit for the State of Origin decider on Wednesday night. The NSW Blue rolled his ankle at training and while it is not believed to be too serious he will be monitored over the next couple of days to see if he can take his place on the bench at Lang Park. A decision will be made in the coming days on whether a replacement will need to be brought into camp.
If Strange is ruled out, he would return to Canberra to continue his treatment, with the Green Machine's next game against the Canterbury Bulldogs at Sydney Olympic Park on Saturday week. It is believed to be the same ankle he rolled against the Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval in round eight, which ruled him out of the trip to the Gold Coast to face the Titans.
Cover Options
The Raiders have Daine Laurie as cover for Strange if needed, with Laurie set to return from a one-game suspension for cocaine possession during the off-season. Strange starred for the Blues in the series opener, scoring a try in a performance that had him in NSW's top three performers. But Blues coach Laurie Daley overlooked him for a starting role in the halves alongside Nathan Cleary for games two and three.
That is despite Mitchell Moses struggling with a hamstring injury and form. Moses injured his hamstring in Origin camp in the lead-up to game one, with Strange stepping up to replace him at short notice. Both he and Raiders teammate Hudson Young played starring roles in the Blues' fightback to win the opener. But Daley brought Moses straight back in for game two at the MCG - despite Moses having not played in the NRL between Origins. Moses struggled in the game-two loss and then struggled for Parramatta last Thursday. But Daley opted to stick with the Eels halfback and keep Strange on the bench.
