Rugby League News | Raidercast

Mon, 6th July, 2026, 13:22 AEST
Verdict is in on Ethan Strange's fitness for Game 3
Ethan Strange is fit to play in the State of Origin decider after an ankle injury scare. Matt Burton will not play.
Zero Tackle
NSW Blues star Ethan Strange has been given the green light to play in Wednesday's State of Origin decider after an injury scare late last week cast some doubt over his fitness.
Strange went down at Blues training on Thursday with a rolled ankle, and was subsequently seen assisted with a moon boot the following days.
It threw chaos into the Blues camp, which prompted Laurie Daley to call an S.O.S to Matt Burton to be on standby if Strange couldn't play.
Although Strange has overcome the complaint, with Nine reporting that Strange has overcome the injury and Matt Burton will depart Blues camp in Kingscliff.
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Mon, 6th July, 2026, 12:54 AEST
Strange fitness decision made by NSW for Origin decider
Ethan Strange has recovered from his ankle injury and will play for NSW in the State of Origin decider on Wednesday night.
The Canberra Times
Ethan Strange has shaken off an ankle injury in time to feature on NSW's team sheet for the State of Origin decider.
The Blues had set Monday as D-Day for Strange, who has been fighting to prove his fitness since rolling his ankle at training on Thursday.
The Canberra playmaker, excellent on debut in the series opener, has undergone extensive treatment on his left ankle and has been walking with ease in recent days.
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Mon, 6th July, 2026, 5:34 AEST
Bulldog's Bite: Why Johnathan Thurston and Darren Lockyer don't make my all-time starting Origin side
Creating a combined State of Origin team is challenging, prioritizing standout players while excluding legends like Thurston and Lockyer.
The Australian
Shifting King Wally to lock for Brett Kenny, omitting Queensland champions Johnathan Thurston and Darren Lockyer, including Artie Beetson and naming Gus Gould as coach.
What started as a fun project - picking my greatest ever combined State of Origin side from 1980 until now - quickly became excruciating.
How do you cram 46 years of brilliance and aggressive interstate rivalry into one squad? I was reluctantly forced to disregard some of the greatest rugby league players ever.
Halfback alone prompted me to take a BEX and have a lie down. There's Thurston, Andrew Johns, Ricky Stuart, Steve Mortimer, Cooper Cronk and the one-and-only Alfie Langer.
Given his heroics in the 2005 series, I opted for Johns but overlooking Thurston for a run-on spot was difficult. Thurston played 37 Origin games and helped Queensland win 11 series.
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