Josh Papali'i is out, but rookie Ethan "Sando" Sanders shines with a game-winning goal, leading the Dally M Medal standings.
The Canberra Raiders will be without experienced leader Josh Papali'i in round two's clash with the Warriors in Auckland, but "The Ice Man" has the squad walking tall regardless.
Ethan Sanders is best known as "Sando" at Raiders HQ, but his teammates might be adopting a new nickname after his game-winning heroics against Manly.
The 22-year-old's clutch golden point field goal in just his fifth NRL game, put all doubt to bed over the young halfback's ability to deliver in the NRL - and now he tops the Dally M Medal leaderboard.
"He's had a few nicknames, they all stick, so we might start calling him 'The Ice Man' soon," Raiders forward and Sanders' former NSW Blues Under-19 teammate, Myles Martin, said.