CANBERRA five-eighth Ethan Strange didn’t play a game on the Kangaroo Tour last year – but he credits it for his form this year nonetheless.
The Raiders (3-4) beat Melbourne 26-22 at home last Friday and open round eight against Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval tonight (Thursday).
“It took me a while to get going,” Strange, who could have played for England or New Zealand, told Mix 106.3 of his season so far.
“But I spent some time away with some very knowledgeable football players so it’s definitely helped.”
Strange was taken away as a development player and couldn’t get a look-in with Nathan Cleary and Cameron Munster among the stars of a 3-0 Ashes series win.
Discussing his burgeoning combination with halves partner Ethan Sanders, he added: “We’re still growing. None of us had a trial match.
“We went into round one without a trial which is a first for both of us. Every game, we’re going to be better and better.
“He’s been killing it. I’m really proud of him.
Melbourne have sunk to a fifth consecutive defeat, fighting back against Canberra before eventually finishing off second best at GIO Stadium.
In a seesawing game, Canberra grabbed a 12-0 lead early and then Melbourne swept back to hit the front. At halftime it was 16-12 to the visitors at the break.
Canberra led by 10 well into the final 10 minutes but their cause wasn’t helped when the restart after Nick Meaney’s 74th minute try went out on the full.
But Zac Hosking seemed to made sure of it for the Green Machine with a try with three minutes on the clock.
But the incident was revisited by the Bunker as there was a head collision, with Hudson Young placed on report and the try chalked off.
“We’ve got some of the old boys here who represented the club upstairs,” said Raiders captain Joe Tapine.
“We didn’t want to go upstairs and see them after a loss. It gave us the extra energy and will to win.
“We just need to get them to come every week. It’s a bit more fire.”
Embed from Getty Images
CANBERRA 26 (Sasagi Horsburgh Strange Timoko tries Sanders 6 goals) beat MELBOURNE 22 (Meaney 2 Fa’alogo Warbrick tries Meaney 3 goals) at GIO Stadium.
Teams:
CANBERRA: Keao Weekes; Sebastien Kris, Simi Sasagi, Matt Timoko, Jed Stuart; Ethan Strange, Ethan Sanders; Joe Tapine (c), Tom Starling, Ata Matiota, Hudson Young, Zac Hosking, Corey Horsburgh. Res: Josh Papalii, Noah Martin, Jayden Brailey, Morgan Smithies, Daine Lawrie, Joe Reddy.
MELBOURNE:Sua Fa’alogo; Will Warbrick, Jack Howarth, Manaia Waitere, Nick Meaney; Cameron Munster, Jahrome Hughes; Stefano Utoikamanu, Harry Grant (c), Josh King, Joe Chan, Cooper Clarke, Trent Loiero. Res: Tyran Wishart, Alec McDonald, Jack Hetherington, Shawn Blore.
Referee: Peter Gough.
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