Rugby League News | Raidercast

Thu, 2nd July, 2026, 14:50 AEST
'He'll handle it': Walker to keep lippy Young restless
NSW plans to target Queensland's Sam Walker defensively, but coach Josh Hannay believes Walker will rise to the challenge in the State of Origin decider.
The Canberra Times
NSW have a plan to get at Queensland half Sam Walker defensively, but former Maroons assistant Josh Hannay insists the Sydney Rooster will be up for the challenge.
Hannay, now Gold Coast coach, took charge of the Titans in an opposed training session against the Maroons on Thursday morning at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
Titans left edge back-rower Beau Fermor fulfilled the task of Blues second-rower Hudson Young by keeping the heat on Walker in preparation for the State of Origin decider at Suncorp Stadium on July 8.
According to murmurs out of the Blues camp, Young, who will play on Walker's side, had said the Queensland half was a hard man to target because he was well hidden defensively "on the wing".
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Thu, 2nd July, 2026, 14:06 AEST
Fresh training scare for the Blues ahead of decider
Ethan Strange's ankle injury puts his participation in the State of Origin decider in doubt, prompting NSW to consider an outside player replacement.
The Canberra Times
NSW are on stand-by to call in a player from outside their squad for the State of Origin decider after Ethan Strange rolled his ankle at training.
The Canberra young gun suffered the injury at the Blues' first field session of their camp for game three, held at Gold Coast's Cbus Super Stadium on Thursday.
NSW remain hopeful bench playmaker Strange could shake off the injury in time to be fit for Wednesday's match against Queensland in Brisbane.
But staff will monitor the situation and are ready to request NRL permission to draft in a player from outside their 20-man squad.
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Thu, 2nd July, 2026, 13:36 AEST
NSW holding their breath after Ethan Strange goes down with ankle injury at Blues camp
Ethan Strange injured his ankle; NSW Blues wait 48 hours for his fitness decision, with Matt Burton as a potential replacement.
The Australian
Ethan Strange has sent a scare through the NSW Blues camp after rolling his ankle at training on Thursday.
The Blues medical staff is monitoring the injury and it's likely the Canberra star will be given another 48 hours to prove his fitness.
Laurie Daley's Blues won't train on Friday or Sunday, giving Strange more time to recover.
Canterbury's Matt Burton is shaping as the logical replacement should Strange be ruled out.
NSW ICON MAKES SURPRISE APPEARANCE AT BLUES CAMP
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Thu, 2nd July, 2026, 6:20 AEST
NSW enforcer Hudson Young ready to hunt down Maroons playmaker
NSW players plan to target Queensland's Sam Walker, who defensively "hides on the wing" to avoid NSW forwards during Origin.
The Australian
NSW players are vowing to hunt down Sam Walker after claiming the Queensland halfback "hides on the wing" in defence.
Walker has been monumental for Queensland this series and will be heavily targeted by the Blues forwards during Wednesday night's State of Origin decider in Brisbane.
Maroons coach Billy Slater regularly pushes Walker onto the wing defensively - sometimes for up to four tackles a set - to protect his gun playmaker from being roughed-up by the giant NSW forwards.
This masthead found Walker defending on the wing at least 20 times during the opening two Origin games.
NSW players were also aware that Walker was chirping and sledging while defending on the winger.
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Thu, 2nd July, 2026, 4:36 AEST
Young Blue looking to stir up trouble for Maroon rivals
Hudson Young emphasizes the need to pressure Queensland's Sam Walker in the Origin decider, while urging NSW to focus on broader threats from the Maroons.
The Canberra Times
Hudson Young says it's his job to send extra attention Sam Walker's way in the State of Origin decider, but insists NSW must broaden their focus beyond the star Queensland halfback.
In his first Origin series, Walker is the bookmakers' favourite to clinch the Wally Lewis Medal, having been named man of the match in the Maroons' big game-two win.
The Sydney Roosters star had also looked on track to clinch man-of-the-match honours on debut in the series opener, until Kalyn Ponga's send-off tipped the game in the Blues' favour.
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