Rugby League News | Raidercast

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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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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