Jasmin Strange has revealed brother Ethan was coughing up blood on Saturday morning before the Canberra star was ruled out of the Raiders’ semi-final against Cronulla. Ethan Strange was sorely missed on Saturday night as the Raiders crashed out of the finals in straight-sets with a 32-12 loss to the Sharks.
It made Ricky Stuart’s side the first minor premiers to lose back-to-back in the finals since 2009, and just the second since 1999. Canberra copped a disastrous blow before the game even started when Strange was ruled out.
Jasmin Strange (L) lifted the lid on the situation with brother Ethan (R). Image: Getty
The Raiders said the young five-eighth had been struck down by illness and couldn’t take his place in the side, with Simi Sasagi forced to shift into the halves. Speaking on Triple M radio before the game, Jasmin revealed some awful details.
Ethan Strange had been so good for Canberra in 2025. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
The NRLW star said: “It wasn’t a good night at all. Luckily mum was there to look after him and the doctor was there until all hours (of the morning). He was vomiting all night. Fevers, chills.
“His resting heart rate was really high. The doctor said it would have been really dangerous for him to play. He’d do anything to play and he doesn’t like letting people down. He’s very unwell and was coughing up blood this morning as well.
“He’s devastated. I think it was the doctor who had a word because Ricky (Stuart) said he’d leave it up to Ethan. But the doctor said ‘no, it’s actually really unsafe for him to be playing’. He’s already played a few games this season while unwell, so for him to not be playing today you know it’s serious.”
Father opens up on awful situation for Ethan Strange
Ethan’s father John – who coaches Jasmin with the Roosters NRLW team – had earlier said the same about his son’s resting heart rate being dangerously high. “He’s not too good at the moment,” John told 2GB radio. “My wife has been down there for the last couple of days looking after him.
“She rang me to tell me that they had called the club doctor out to his house, he had a resting heart rate of 120 or higher, which they were concerned about to start with. They were still hopeful that he would be able to pull up alright this morning and play, but overnight he was up with a high fever and my wife was worried about his breathing.
“I’m not 100 per cent sure [of the exact diagnosis], but it has knocked him about and flattened him. He is up vomiting through the night as well.”
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Halfback Jamal Fogarty struggled on Saturday night without usual halves partner Strange. It was a sad end to Fogarty’s career in Canberra, with the No.7 switching to Manly next year.
Kieran Foran said on Fox League: “He looked nervous. He kicked OK throughout the contest, I thought he nailed a few spiralling kicks, but ultimately what we spoke about at the start of the game was around his defence and his organisation.
“Without Strange there, he was gonna need to be the dominant playmaker and get them into positions on the field to get their attack on. I don’t think he did that well enough, and then ultimately I think on the flip side defensively, he missed the mark.”