Strange feeling: Raiders rookie ready after sin bin scare

Ethan Strange hopes he’s done enough to earn the Raiders vacant No. 6 jersey but admitted he lost sleep on Sunday night waiting to hear his fate from the NRL Judiciary.

The Raiders rookie looks to be leading the race for five-eighth after stealing the show in the first half of last Sunday’s Pre-Season clash, but the 19-year-old was left in unfamiliar territory when he was placed on report and sent to the sin bin for a dangerous tackle.

“It was all going good at the start until obviously that tackle, I know it happens and it was an accident but I haven’t really done anything like that up until then," Strange told pan66.com.

“That's the first time anything like that's ever happened to me, I've had a pretty clean record up until now.

“I was definitely nervous, I didn't get much sleep the night before.

“So I was just happy to know I got a fine and as long as I didn't get any weeks, I'm happy.”

Strange’s clean record was on his side come Monday’s NRL Judiciary news when he was handed a fine with an early guilty plea and the Central Coast junior said he started to eye Round 1 again.

Canberra’s halves pairing has been a major talking point over the pre-season with Strange vying for the No. 6 position with new recruit Kaeo Weekes.

But after the youngsters both had a chance to put their pre-season training to practice over the last fortnight of trials, Strange is content knowing the decision is now in coach Ricky Stuart’s hands.

“I was pretty happy with the trials, obviously what happened at the end of that second game was a little bit of a stain and you’re left feeling like you can always do more, but I'm pretty happy,” Strange said.

"We all want to play that game but I'm just happy to do whatever the team needs me to.

“It’s been healthy competition and me and Kaeo actually get along really well, we’re good mates. So whoever gets that jersey, there's no bad feelings either.”

After joining the Raiders in the off-season from Manly, Weekes looked to be the frontrunner for five-eighth but not only did Strange turn heads with his cool, calm playmaking ability, the U/19s Origin star also stood up in defence.

Silencing Cowboys backrower Heilum Luki on several occasions on Sunday, Strange said it helped having his dad, Roosters NRLW coach John Strange, watching from the stands at Seiffert Oval on Sunday.

“That's something Dad's always driven into me big time,” he said.

“Being able to attack, but more importantly, being able to defend and even though I'm a half, I can still get up and be aggressive.

“I always hit a little harder when Dad’s there as well.”