BY DAN

Three weeks since we first got word on the Green Machine Podcast, the Canberra Raiders have announced that Ethan Strange has signed a long-term extension.

I don’t need to tell you that this is good news. You already knew that. You’ve seen how he’s adjusted to first grade, from a masterclass against the Eels, to the scything run against the Titans to save the day. He’s proven himself on both sides of the ball. Hardly a complete product, he’s also shown a resolute commitment to improving. The upside is endless. The delivery is impressive. How do the Raiders move on from Jack Wighton? By getting his evolutionary superior? Ok calm down, but the point remains that if you’re going to lose a hard-running Dally-M winning five-eighth, a good replacement is a hard-running future Dally-M winning five-eighth.

It’s good work by the front office. These negotiations tend to take time and the initial reporting from the Green Machine Podcast was that discussions had been ongoing since the pre-season. It’s a sign that the club were on top of what they had early and moved quickly to beat out other options (like the Roosters, who will have $8m in cap space courtesy of Joey Manu’s $800k deal coming off the cap). 700k a year is what’s been reported, and we’ve said this before but for someone that will could be an elite half by the end of the deal it’s excellent value.

The length of the deal – four years beyond this one – seems long but it actually isn’t. Strange is 19. Remember that. In four years time he’ll be (count with me) 23, which is still goddamn young for a playmaker. Shit if he was 23 and playing like he is now we’d be giddy at the thought of what might be ahead. But that he may have four years of getting better ahead of him before he even signs the deal that would bring him into his prime is insane. Canberra have been waiting for a talent in the spine like this for a while.

There remains risk. Injury is always one that is unavoidable. Strange is still growing (probably. He’s only 19. I mean i’m not staring in his window that you know of) and developing physiques aren’t always responsive to the rigors of professional sport. Ask any fast bowler you can think of. There’s every chance that as this season rolls on, or future seasons, Strange may have moments where his body is cooperating. But that’s a risk you take with any player at any time, and whereas a deal with someone entering their 30s would give one pause, when they’re entering their 20s it’s less of a concern. So far Strange has shown is a physical maturity that’s matched his mental acuity. That’s a good sign.

While he’s been a revelation early a word of caution. The focus of oppositions has been about testing his defensive will and technique. So far he’s proven up to the challenge. Over the coming months teams will game-plan for his offensive skillset more and more. They’ll stop him taking off his left foot and hitting the advantage. They’ll make him ball-play in the line more. Jamal Fogarty will (eventually) be blanketed when he goes to kick, and Strange will be asked to find metres or in-goal-grass. There will be times when it feels like he’s plateauing. It will be up to him (and his coaches) to ensure he takes the new attention and turns it into a step-change.

He’s shown so far he’s up to the challenge. He’s not kicking much so far but for the most part it’s been effective (including finding a repeat set against the Titans). His running game can get shut down and he’s no expert ball-player in the line yet. But he’s shown glimpses, and when things are made difficult he’s constantly seeking to find new a different ways through. His run to win the Titans game was an example. Blanketed all game he kept searching for the way through (turns out it was around) and didn’t panic when he got into space. Perseverance, intelligence, maturity. Let’s call it the motto of the school of Ethan Strange.

An intriguing part of this school is that he seems to the impetus that has drawn other players to the capital. Chevy Stewart’s family noted this fact, and I wonder if that’s been a big part in Ethan Sanders’ ongoing march to Canberra. Pulling together a young spine is one thing but if he continues to grow as a player he won’t even have to champagne and campaign to get players to town. He’ll have his own orbit that will draw them in.

Get a coffee and a pack of snakes. It’s going to be a long, fun journey with Strange.

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