'Always loved Ethan': Why Strange is ready to answer Blues SOS
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NSW Blues coach Laurie Daley has backed Ethan Strange to deliver on the big stage after the debutant was thrust into the starting side on the eve of Wednesday's Origin series opener.
The21-year-old will line up at five-eighth after Mitchell Moses suffered a minor hamstring injury at training on Monday morning, with the Blues officially ruling the Eels skipper out on Tuesday.
The changes will see Strange start at five-eighth and Matt Burton come into the squad as a bench utility for Game One at Accor Stadium.
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It's a high-pressure situation for the youngster to be thrown into but Daley has no doubts about the Raider's ability to deliver for his state.
"I've always loved Ethan as a player," Daley said. "I probably watch more Canberra games than any other team, so I've got a fair idea on Ethan as a player and I like the way he plays.
"At this level, if you've got a strong running game you want to challenge the defence. There's a lot of fatigue in Origin, so if he just backs his instincts, he'll play well. I'm not worried about Ethan, he'll play well."
A junior talent from the Central Coast, Strange has long been destined to develop into an NRL star. The rise, however, has been even quicker than many could have anticipated.
After scoring a hat-trick for the NSW Under 19 side in 2023, the youngster made his first grade debut for the Raiders later that season.
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Strange solidified his position in the Canberra halves the following year and led his club to a drought-breaking minor premiership in 2025. He has repeatedly been compared to Daley for his physical run-first playing style that emulates the Raiders legend.
His performances last season saw Strange earn a call up for the Kangaroos Ashes tour, where he got to learn from NSW halfback Nathan Cleary.
Blues captain Isaah Yeo was also the skipper on that tour and watched a young gun mature into a player ready to deliver in front of 80,000 fans at Accor Stadium on Wednesday night.
"Ethan was a sponge over there," Yeo said. "You could just see he was sort of gravitating particularly towards Nathan and Mitch. Cameron Munster was over there as well.
"We've prepared for different things and different scenarios, so Ethan and Nathan have had little moments together on the field. They've got an opportunity today, it will probably be conditions like this tomorrow night, so they'll be able to smooth out a few little things.
"Ultimately, we want Ethan to be Ethan, and his best attributes are when he's running, taking the line on, and being hard to handle. I don't think much changes for him."
Amid the excitement for Strange about his new role in his NSW debut is the disappointment for Moses, who has seen another Origin campaign cruelled by injury.
The playmaker missed the opening game of the 2024 series before returning to lead the Blues to a come-from-behind 2-1 victory.
Moses then combined with Cleary to help NSW topple Queensland at Suncorp Stadium in Game One last year, however he injured his calf at training in the lead up to the second match and missed the remainder of the series.
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Daley hopes the playmaker will be available for Game Two of this year's campaign, with Yeo confident he will bounce back from the latest setback.
"He was disappointed," Yeo said. "It was a bit up in the air yesterday and he hasn't had a hammy before, so he wasn't really sure, he wasn't giving anyone much because he didn't know himself.
"He was probably sick of everyone asking him how he was traveling as well, but ultimately there was something there. I'm disappointed for him because we've seen when he's in this arena how good he can be. I'm disappointed in that sense, but it's a good opportunity for Strangey."
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