New South Wales Blues coach Laurie Daley has selected 21-year-old [1] Raiders forward Ethan Strange to start in the State of Origin series opener.
The selection comes after the injury-enforced omission of Moses, forcing the Blues to pivot their strategy for the first game of the series. By introducing Strange, the team aims to integrate a larger, more aggressive presence into the starting lineup to counter their opponents.
Daley said the move allows the team to utilize a specific physical profile. "Ethan Strange is a big body with a lethal running game, no stranger to the Raiders No.6 jersey," Daley said [2].
The decision also aligns with recent changes to the game's structure. Daley said the NRL's new six-man benches [1] will give him greater flexibility when picking his squad for the Origin series [2]. This expanded bench allows the coach to manage substitutions and player fatigue more effectively than under previous rules.
Strange enters the Origin arena as a young talent who has already demonstrated versatility with the Canberra Raiders. His ability to operate as a running threat provides the Blues with a tactical alternative to the traditional playmaking style usually associated with the position.
The Blues are now focused on integrating Strange into the team's chemistry before the opening whistle. The coaching staff intends to leverage his size and speed to disrupt the opposing defensive line, a key objective for the series opener.
“Ethan Strange is a big body with a lethal running game”
The selection of Ethan Strange represents a tactical shift toward physicality and size over traditional playmaking in the wake of Moses' injury. By leveraging the new six-man bench rule, Laurie Daley can experiment with a high-impact starter like Strange while maintaining a deeper reserve of specialists to adjust the game plan in real-time.
