More details have emerged about the shock late withdrawal of Canberra Raiders five-eighth Ethan Strange ahead of tonight’s knock-out semi final against Cronulla.
Strange’s father John, who is also the Sydney Roosters NRLW head coach, spoke with the Continuous Call Team on 2GB earlier this afternoon, revealing the 21-year-old had been sick all last night.
“He’s not too good at the moment,” Strange said, explaining the club doctor was called out to his son’s house yesterday.
“He had a resting heart rate of 120 or higher, which they were concerned about, but they were still hopeful that he’d pull up all right this morning and be able to play (against the Sharks).”
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Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case and the star has been subsequently ruled out of the sudden death clash at a sold out GIO Stadium.
“Overnight he was up with a high fever, my wife Adele was really concerned about his breathing through the middle of the night as well,” John Strange continued.
“They’ve had the club doctor out again, it’s knocked him about and sort of flattened him, (he’s been) up vomiting through the night.”
Should Canberra defeat the Sharks tonight, they will be desperately hoping Strange is available for selection for the preliminary final against the Storm in Melbourne next Friday night.