Boom Canberra Raiders playmaker Ethan Strange has a chance to become just the third player in the club's history to win the NRL rookie of the year prize, but a lingering injury may curtail his representative hopes. Subscribe now for unlimited access . Login or signup to continue reading All articles from our website & app The digital version of Today's Paper Breaking news alerts direct to your inbox Interactive Crosswords, Sudoku and Trivia All articles from the other regional websites in your area Continue Strange was named as one of three rookie finalists ahead of the Dally M awards on Wednesday, with Joe Tapine a prop of the year contender and Hudson Young a chance to win the second-row prize.
Strange, 20, had a breakout year and established himself as the obvious heir to Jack Wighton at five-eighth, playing 22 of 24 games and giving Raiders fans hope for the future as they invest in young talent. He will square off with Dolphins winger Jack Bostock, who scored 14 tries in his first full season, and Kayal Iro, who starred at centre for the Sharks. Strange's form has put him on the radar for higher honours and Prime Minister's XIII coach Brad Fittler nominated him as one of four Raiders in line for the clash against Papua New Guinea on October 13.
But his involvement in the game in Port Moresby will hinge on how well he has recovered from a calf problem that saw him miss two of the last three games of the season. A call on his availability will likely be made in the coming .