Strange Hat-Trick Fires Raiders Back to the Top
Friday night in Canberra turned into a showcase for one of the NRL’s brightest young stars, as 20-year-old Ethan Strange produced a sensational hat-trick to help the Raiders defeat the Manly Sea Eagles 28-12, reclaiming their spot at the top of the ladder.
The match began with early promise for Manly. Within three minutes, Tolu Koula sliced through the Raiders’ defence and set up Tom Trbojevic for a try, sending Sea Eagles fans into early celebrations. But that would be the high point of their night. The next 77 minutes became a frustrating grind, as Canberra tightened their defensive screws and repeatedly blunted Manly’s attack.
Strange’s first try came with his trademark left-foot step, leaving even veterans like Daly Cherry-Evans and Trbojevic grasping at air. His second mirrored the first, a sharp angled run through heavy traffic, and his third came off a slick one-handed flick pass from rookie winger Jed Stuart. Each time, the young five-eighth seemed to be everywhere Manly didn’t want him to be.
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Raiders coach Ricky Stuart was full of praise after the game, calling Strange a future Origin and Australian representative. “He’s only 25-30 games into his career, but he’s got Origin attitude – the way he defends, the way he runs. I think he’ll play for Australia this year,” Stuart said, with the conviction of a man who’s seen enough to believe the hype.
Manly coach Anthony Seibold, however, focused on his team’s execution rather than effort. The Sea Eagles had moments – particularly when Canberra’s fullback Kaeo Weekes was sent to the sin bin – but four costly yardage penalties and a lack of accuracy near the Raiders’ line proved fatal. “Against the top side, you’ve got to be squeaky clean with discipline,” Seibold admitted.
The contest effectively ended when Jake Trbojevic left the field for a head injury with 23 minutes remaining. Soon after, Seb Kris intercepted a loose pass and ran the length to score, sealing Manly’s fate. While Ethan Bullemor impressed with his hard carries, the forwards simply ran out of steam on a cool Canberra night.
For the Raiders, this was their 17th win of the season, and with the minor premiership now in their sights, confidence is soaring. They’ll enjoy a bye next week, though Corey Horsburgh’s late shoulder charge may put him in hot water before their upcoming clash with Penrith.
As for Manly, finals hopes are hanging by a thread. Four wins from their final four matches will likely be required, but based on this performance, that’s looking more like a fantasy than a plan. Cherry-Evans summed it up bluntly: “We can’t look anywhere else – we’ve got to focus on what’s ahead.”
It was a night when one young Raider’s star rose even higher, and when Manly’s season, already teetering, took another painful hit.
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