Rugby League News | Raidercast

Sat, 4th July, 2026, 12:28 AEST
'He'll be okay': NSW confident in playmaker's recovery
NSW believes Ethan Strange will recover from his ankle injury in time for State of Origin III, with Matt Burton on standby if needed.
The Canberra Times
NSW are confident Canberra wonder boy Ethan Strange will recover from his ankle injury in time for the State of Origin decider.
Strange watched Saturday's session from the sidelines at the Gold Coast's Somerset College, where the Blues held their first training session since the back-up playmaker rolled his ankle on Thursday.
Matt Burton arrived in camp on Friday night and is on stand-by should Strange fail to recover for Origin III in Brisbane on Wednesday.
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Sat, 4th July, 2026, 5:54 AEST
NRL Round 18 Super Saturday: Live scores, latest news from around the grounds
NRL Round 18 coverage includes Hudson Young's night with Conor McGregor, potentially boosting NSW's State of Origin chances.
The Australian
Hello and welcome to our coverage for the NRL's Round 18 Super Saturday. Follow live for all the latest NRL and team news.
-Dean Ritchie
A few pints of stout beer in a famous Dublin pub between a UFC legend and a key Blues forward - followed by a physical wrestling session inside an octagon - could give NSW a decisive edge in Wednesday night's State of Origin decider.
Edge backrower Hudson Young has revealed the extraordinary night out he had with MMA champion Conor McGregor after last year's Kangaroo tour.
The pair bumped into each other at the McGregor-owned Black Forge Inn in Crumlin, where Young had been enjoying a beer.
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Fri, 3rd July, 2026, 18:28 AEST
Strange speaks after ankle injury, provides Origin decider update
NSW utility Ethan Strange aims to play in the State of Origin decider after rolling his ankle at training.
Zero Tackle
NSW Blues utility Ethan Strange has revealed he is on track to play in the State of Origin decider despite rolling his ankle at training this week.
Strange, who was one of the best for the Blues in Game 1 after being called into the side late in the piece to replace Mitchell Moses at five-eighth, was shuffled back to the bench for Game 2 in Melbourne as Moses passed his fitness.
Despite limited minutes and role from the pine at the MCG, Strange has been retained for the trip north in what will be a hard-fought decider.
Doubt over his availability became very real when he rolled his ankle at training, with the utility spotted in a compression sock on Friday, and Canterbury Bulldogs backline player Matt Burton called into camp to be on standby.
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Fri, 3rd July, 2026, 11:32 AEST
Bulldogs star on stand-by after NSW's injury scare
Matt Burton will join NSW's State of Origin squad as a potential replacement for Ethan Strange, who is recovering from an ankle injury before the decider.
The Canberra Times
Canterbury utility Matt Burton is on stand-by to replace NSW playmaker Ethan Strange in the State of Origin decider and will fly into camp on the state's far north coast.
The Blues have not yet made a decision on the availability of bench player Strange, who remains a chance to recover from a rolled ankle for Wednesday's game at Suncorp Stadium.
Some Blues players travelled to Byron Bay on their day off on Friday, but Strange stayed at the team hotel in Kingscliff to rest the injury he suffered at training the day before.
The Blues will next train on Saturday morning and are prepared to give Strange more time to shake off his injury.
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Thu, 2nd July, 2026, 17:28 AEST
Former Maroons assistant coach Josh Hannay defends Sam Walker over Blues' 'hiding' claims
NRL coach Josh Hannay defends Sam Walker, asserting he can face the NSW defense despite suggestions he's avoiding defensive roles.
The Australian
The NRL coach who helped Queensland mentor Billy Slater dominate the Blues has rubbished suggestions Sam Walker is scared of defence and has been "hiding" on the wing for the Maroons.
Former Queensland assistant Josh Hannay has backed Walker to handle a NSW defensive onslaught as the Maroons halfback prepares for his first Origin decider this Wednesday night at Suncorp Stadium.
Now coach of Gold Coast, Hannay returned to Camp Maroon on Thursday, taking charge of the Titans in an opposed session against Queensland on Thursday at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
The opposed session took place against a backdrop of pressure piling on Walker, who, according to the Blues, has been shunted to the wing in the opening two games to avoid defensive duties.
NSW back-row firebrand Hudson Young has rattled Walker's cage, claiming the Queensland half is a hard man to target because he was well hidden defensively "on the wing" in Origin II.
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