‘Played 200 or 300 games’: Strange flatters halves mate
Sebastian Tan |
Ethan Strange feels his heavily scrutinised halves partner Ethan Sanders is playing as if he’s got 300 games under his belt in the NRL.
Canberra’s halves pairing has been under the microscope ever since Jamal Fogarty left for Manly and was replaced by seven-cap Sanders at halfback.
The pair have got off to a good start with Sanders scoring the winning field goal in their 29-28 victory over the Sea Eagles in round one, while Strange has continued his push for State of Origin consideration with his blistering runs and intense physicality.
“I always say he’s (Sanders) played 200 or 300 games already. He’s so calm and collected,” Strange said on Friday.
“We didn’t get any trials together, so since round one we’ve been tweaking our combination on the run.
“It’s always good having Sando and a couple of those boys that you grew up versing and playing with … it helps.”
Winger Xavier Savage has been watching the pair develop from afar and has so far been impressed.
“In the Bulldogs game, we didn’t come along with it, but there were a lot of moments where it got me really excited for what’s to come (with the duo),” Savage said.
“He’s (Sanders) only got six or seven games under his belt. So the more those two can get game time together, it’s going to be really exciting going into the rest of the year.”
The Raiders will be looking to bounce back from a tense 14-10 loss against Canterbury when they face Cronulla on Sunday.
Although they won’t have their inspirational captain Josh Papali’i, who is out with a suspension, the weather is forecast to be sunny in Canberra.
It will be a stark difference to the torrential and dramatic conditions that unfolded when leaks occurred in the changerooms and Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo had to get stitches after a window shattered on him in the last round.
Savage is readying to enact revenge on the Sharks after they knocked the Raiders out of the semi-finals last year, but is also hoping GIO Stadium can fare better.
“That (stadium situation) puts a bit of embarrassment on us as a whole, especially since we are a successful team,” he said.
“I don’t think it really impacts me as a player personally … but what it does impact on is our fans that come out and have to deal with those conditions.”
AAP