We love the mighty Canberra Raiders
Ethan Strange recovered from calf injury, set to compete for NRL rookie of the year.
Ethan Strange has overcome his calf injury to get one final chance to stake his claim for NRL rookie of the year.
Both Strange and Jamal Fogarty (hamstring) got through the captain's run on Friday and will line up against St George Illawarra at Kogarah.
Strange has missed the past two games, but has played 20 NRL caps in his break-out season to be one of the main contenders for the rookie gong.
NRL heavily punishes Whitehead, but lenient on Mitchell, confusing standards in the league.
On the one hand, the NRL have doubled down on Elliott Whitehead's love tap with one of the most heavy handed responses in the history of the NRL.
Then on the other, the NRL's one-game ban of injured star Latrell Mitchell for bringing the game into disrepute is a chance of becoming completely meaningless.
Only in the NRL - where only occasionally do things make sense.
Tapine regrets missed opportunities as Raiders face slim chances of making NRL finals. Resurgence too late.
Joe Tapine admits he will look back on the season and wonder what might have been with a Canberra Raiders resurgence - which has brought down two NRL heavyweights - almost certainly coming too late to save their finals hopes.
The Raiders head into a round 27 clash with St George Illawarra with their top eight hopes hanging by the finest of threads, with Canberra needing to win and hope for a draw between Newcastle and the Dolphins to live on for another week.
Back-to-back wins over top four teams Penrith and the Sydney Roosters have shown what the Raiders are capable of - and that's what will sting Tapine during the off-season.