BY DAN

The Canberra Raiders announced yesterday that Ethan Sanders would be scanned for a suspected broken eye socket. Today the club announced it was expected he’d undergo surgery and miss six to seven weeks.

When we first heard about this it was suggested through handsome back channels this could be a broken jaw. So forgive us for almost being relieved. Obviously the range of weeks if preferable to the months of eating through a straw that come with a broken mandible.

Obviously it would better if he wasn’t injured at all. Sanders needs time to develop in NSW Cup, particularly given he’s likely to be in the prime position to take over in the main game. As we noted here, Jamal Fogarty’s unlikely to stick around to mentor him next year. All eyes will be on him from then on and every moment he can be on the field will prepare him better for a bigger role next year.

It’s been fits and starts so far, as one would expect. Through two and a bit games in NSW Cup there were occasions where you could see the whole plan. The quality of his kicking game is obvious, and he is comfortable and able to take on the line running, engaging, and creating. Defensively he’ll always be a victim of his size, but if he’s ably supported by a backrower in first grade he won’t be a liability.

If there’s a work to do it’s that he’s still putting together what it means to be a lead half. On occasions he’s let Adam Cook and Danny Levi take more control of the game than seems optimal to me, at least in terms of my desire for him to already be a finished product. How and when to engage yourself is of course is an on-field judgment call, and one that only the experience of working out what the team needs and how you can make that happen, can help you address. Getting more time on the field would have been better. This will rob him of some of that.

The important thing will then that he is getting back on the field this year. For his development as well as the club. Fogarty’s potential departure means that someone needs to be ready to play halfback from round one 2026. If Sander’s doesn’t get enough time the club may lean into Adam Cook. It’s not the worst backup plan, but when tomorrow is about the future stars you bought along the way, it would be better if those stars were playing.

The first grade impact isn’t limited to next year. Sanders had been pegged as a back up option should something happen to Fogarty or Ethan Strange. This not only means he can’t do that, but also removes the option of playing Sanders at six and moving Strange to the centres. As much as I hate the idea, it’s always better to have options, either to address a lack of depth at centre, or anaemia in the attack.

In his absence Adam Cook becomes the primary option in lieu. Cook is a similar player to Fogarty stylistically, and when they’ve played together the more experienced player has oddly taken a backseat. Canberra’s attack has looked less than dynamic lately, but it felt even more forlorn with that halves pairing last year. He would match with Strange, but in the same side as Fogarty it makes much less sense (to me at least).

There’s obviously ramifications with the Cup team and the development of other players too. Ethan Alaia filled in at six last week after Sanders left the field. He’s mostly been a fullback in Flegg. Being fast-tracked into a new role in a higher grade is a steep test. He seemed up to it last week, but I would be surprised if he was asked again in the near term. At the moment he’s listed at 14, with Cook presumably to play 7 (though he’s currently on the first grade extended bench).

Similarly Jalen Afamasaga also did a good job in a bigger role than he would have expected having. One would assume the pairing will only be revisited if there’s an injury somewhere else, either in first grade or Cup. Both of these are prospects, and if one major prospect isn’t getting the time you want, it’s good to see less heralded ones are.

In the meantime we wish Ethan a speedy recovery. This is not ideal, for him or the club.

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