Raiders land 'significant' deal for boom rookie

Canberra has made a huge move on the recruitment and retention front, re-signing boom rookie Ethan Strange until the end of 2028.

The teenage playmaker has been a standout for the Raiders early in the season, helping the side to four victories from six matches after replacing Jack Wighton.

Strange has become a fantastic foil for halfback Jamal Fogarty and the pair will now have plenty more time to work on their combination.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the 19-year-old admitted the decision to sign a fresh contract was a simple one.

Ethan Strange has committed to the Raiders long-term.

“This place has become my home and I love it and all the boys here,” Strange said.

“I’m loving the way my footy is going and the coaches trust in me. They don’t put too much pressure on me, and it makes it a great place to play footy.

“Having other guys I’ve played with who are my really good mates like Chevy (Stewart) and Micky (Asomua) all staying a bit longer makes it easy for me.

“It’s great to see the club has put the trust in me to sign long term and I’m excited to see what we can build.”

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Strange has crossed for one try and set up another in a modest statistical start to his time in the No.6 jumper, but has taken the game by the scruff of the neck on numerous occasions, averaging 78 run metres per game for the Green Machine.

Raiders recruitment manager Joel Carbone lauded the young gun as a major part of the club’s long-term future.

“This is a very significant re-signing for us as a club,” he said.

“We identified Ethan at a young age and knew if we were able to get him to Canberra and into our system, we’d give him the best possibility to start his NRL career.

“Ethan has had a really impressive start to his NRL career and we’re confident he will continue to grow with this group of players and staff around him.”