Raiders' Ethan Strange up for NRL rookie of the year, potential injury setback for representative dreams.
Boom Canberra Raiders playmaker Ethan Strange has a chance to become just the third player in the club's history to win the NRL rookie of the year prize, but a lingering injury may curtail his representative hopes.
Strange was named as one of three rookie finalists ahead of the Dally M awards on Wednesday, with Joe Tapine a prop of the year contender and Hudson Young a chance to win the second-row prize.
Strange, 20, had a breakout year and established himself as the obvious heir to Jack Wighton at five-eighth, playing 22 of 24 games and giving Raiders fans hope for the future as they invest in young talent.