It’s not every day you get thrown into the fire of State of Origin with less than 24 hours to prepare, but Ethan Strange looked like he’d been doing it for years. The 21-year-old Canberra Raiders star was a late inclusion for the Blues, replacing the sidelined Mitchell Moses. He repaid the faith with a performance that silenced any doubters. While the match began as a disaster for New South Wales, ending in a massive comeback win, it was Strange who provided the spark when his side desperately needed it.
He wasn't just there to make up the numbers, either. Strange crossed the line for a try and looked dangerous every time he touched the ball, even having a second effort scrubbed out by the officials for an obstruction. For a debutant at this level, his defensive grit and ability to find gaps in a tiring Queensland line were deadset impressive. It’s the kind of composure that usually takes players half a dozen games to find, but he just slotted in like he was back at GIO Stadium in Canberra.
"That was pretty special, that one. Playing with all these guys, they’re all legends of the game. I’m pinching myself."
Laurie Daley, the man in the coaching box, must have been breathing a massive sigh of relief when the final whistle blew. For most of the evening, it looked like his tenure as coach was going to suffer another brutal blow. The Blues were sloppy, committing a catalogue of errors that handed Queensland a 20-0 head start. It was a bleak opening. For a man who has already been through five losing series as coach, another defeat here would have been a bitter pill to swallow.
However, Nathan Cleary stood up when the pressure was at its peak. The NSW halfback proved why he’s considered one of the best in the business. He orchestrated the attack and guided the Blues through that incredible second-half resurgence. With Queensland playing with 12 men for a portion of the match, the momentum shift was absolute. It turned a potential embarrassment into a historic night for the Sky Blues.
There has been a lot of talk about whether Laurie Daley actually wants to stay in the job long-term. Even before this series kicked off, he was playing a bit of a cat-and-mouse game with the media on his breakfast radio program. He claimed he knows exactly what his future looks like, but he’s been keeping his cards close to his chest. Many insiders reckon he’s planning to walk away regardless of the outcome, though a series win might force a rethink.
If he does decide to pack it in, the rumour mill is already churning with names to take over the mantle. Ivan Cleary, the Penrith mastermind, is widely viewed as the heir apparent once he wraps up his commitments with the Panthers next year. It’s a transition that many fans have been expecting for a while now, but for the moment, the stage belongs to Daley. He’s managed to pull off a win that keeps his legacy intact, at least for another game.
Strange’s rise has been meteoric, and it feels like he’s finally arrived on the big stage. Having spent time on the Kangaroos tour last year, he’s been rubbing shoulders with the game’s elite, including Nathan Cleary himself. That experience paid dividends on Wednesday night. Raiders coach Ricky Stuart had previously tipped Strange for greatness, predicting he’d be wearing the sky blue jersey within a year. It turns out, Ricky was spot on, and he might have even underestimated how quickly the kid would adapt.
The team has a selection headache on their hands. Mitchell Moses is expected back from his hamstring injury, but dropping a player who just delivered a standout performance like that won't be easy. The Blues have two more matches to lock in the series, with games coming up in Melbourne and Brisbane. If they can replicate the intensity of that final 20 minutes, they'll be a tough side to stop.