Melbourne Storm legend and Queensland Maroons coach Billy Slater has offered the highest level of praise to Canberra Raiders rookie Ethan Sanders, likening him to his coach back in his playing days.
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Sanders played his much-awaited first game of the year in the No.7 jersey for the green machine on Saturday night in their 29-28 golden point win over the Manly Sea Eagles at Brookvale Oval, crucially slotting the winning field goal in extra time.
He came up with the clutch moment as former Raiders halfback Jamal Fogarty made his official club debut for Manly, watching the youngster ice the game on the other side.
Prior to heading to the Raiders, Sanders made two appearances for the Parramatta Eels in 2024. He played 19 games in the NSW Cup for Canberra last season, crossing for six tries and having a hand in 15 try assists.
But it was his performance on the big stage that had Slater’s attention, though, making the Queensland coach excited for the Raiders’ future.
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“Ethan Sanders is an out-and-out halfback, I haven’t seen much of him play but I was really impressed with him, and Ethan Strange is playing like a genuine No.6 and they are playing old-school, traditional roles as a halves partnership.” Slater said on the Billy Slater Podcast.
“It’s nearly like Ricky Stuart and Laurie Daley. So often we just see halves sit on the left or right and they control their area… they don’t sort of connect a whole heap.
“Ethan Sanders is the first receiver and Ethan Strange floats around as the second receiver, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t mix and match it.
“I just think it’s a breath of fresh air.”
The young halves pairing will face the ultimate away test this Friday, when they head across the ditch to take on a Warriors side beaming with confidence after a dominant win over the Roosters last week.
Ethan Sanders secured the field-goal for the Raiders last weekend.Source: Getty Images
DRAGONS SIGN INTERNATIONAL FORWARD
The St George Illawarra Dragons have added to their depth in the forward with the arrival of Cook Islands international Reuben Porter.
Able to play a variety of positions in the forward pack, foxsports.com.au understands that he has agreed to a NSWRL (NSW Cup) deal with the club after being farewelled by the Wests Tigers at the end of last season.
A regular in the NSW Cup for the Tigers last season he has racked up eight appearances in first-grade in the past with all of those coming during the 2024 NRL season.
“I’m looking forward to having a bit of a rest and then will sort my future out after that. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to be in the NRL again,” Porter said in 2025 that he was aiming to return to the NRL in the near future.
”That’s obviously where I want to be and where I want to play and if the opportunity comes up, I’ll definitely take it.“
The utility forward has switched clubs.Source: Getty Images
INJURY UPDATE ON ROOKIE HALF
The South Sydney Rabbitohs have provided an update on rookie halfback Ashton Ward after he suffered a syndesmosis injury over the weekend in their 40-30 opening round win over the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium.
Ward will spend up to the next eight weeks on the sidelines, and as a result, Jayden Sullivan has been called in to wear the No.7 jersey alongside Cody Walker in the halves.
The Gerringong product was already stepping up in place of the suspended Jamie Humphreys, who still has one more match to serve after being suspended for dangerous contact in their loss to the Roosters back in round 27 last year.
It means Humphries will be back next week against the Tigers at Gosford, should he be selected.
Ward joins yet another decent-sized Rabbitohs injury list, which already features Brandon Smith, Jonah Glover, Jai Arrow and Adam Elliot.
Meanwhile, the Rabbitohs opponents in Round 1, the Dolphins, will now be missing Kurt Donoghoe for their clash against the Titans this weekend due to a minor hamstring injury.
However, the club confirmed that he should be on target for a Round 2 return against the Cronulla Sharks.
Donoghoe joins Daniel Saifiti, Jack Bostock, Jeremy Marshall-King and LJ Nonu on the Dolphins’ injury list.
Ashton Ward will miss the next two months of football.Source: News Corp Australia
WARRIORS CONFIRM FORWARD SIGNING
The New Zealand Warriors have confirmed the signing of forward Cooper Page-Wilson on a two-year contract.
Joining the club, effective immediately, his recruitment on a NSWRL (NSW Cup) contract will see him increase the club’s forward depth as they attempt to win back-to-back titles in the reserve-grade competition.
Previously spending time in NRL systems at the Brisbane Broncos and Melbourne Storm, he arrives from the Sunshine Coast Falcons in the QLD Cup where he averaged 107 metres and 23 tackles a game last season.
“With three seasons in the Queensland Cup and NRL trials behind him, Cooper is a key signing with the experience he’ll bring to our young New South Wales Cup squad,” Warriors GM of Recruitment, Pathways and Development Andrew McFadden said.
“He’ll be training fulltime with our NRL squad and will provide invaluable support for the players we have coming through our pathways.”