When Ethan Sanders and Ethan Strange run out against Manly at Brookvale on Saturday night, it will be the first time two Ethans play together in the halves in the NRL.
The moment marks a symbolic turning point for Canberra Raiders, one of rugby league's oldest clubs searching for its first premiership since 1994. Canberra finished last year on top of the ladder before losing both their finals, and coach Ricky Stuart is looking to build on that with a deeper run into the finals.
Sanders, 22, has played just four NRL games but has been given the keys to the Green Machine this season to form a young halves pairing with boom five-eighth Ethan Strange, after moving from Parramatta where he came up through the grades to serve his halfback apprenticeship under the now departed Fogarty.
That apprenticeship was expected to continue this season with Fogarty holding an option to remain in Canberra, but the Queenslander decided to take a long-term deal with the Sea Eagles instead. It's made Sanders' decision a good one given he'd still be stuck behind Mitchell Moses if he'd remained with Parramatta.
How young halfback Ethan Sanders adapts to life in the NRL could play a big role in the club's improvement, with coach Ricky Stuart backing the playmaker's courage. Stuart said Sanders is quite courageous in taking his apprenticeship last year to build longevity in his career, noting that a lot of young players today are too much in a rush to play first grade, and that he takes his hat off to Sanders for sitting back, waiting and developing his game.
Five-eighth Ethan Strange will partner Sanders in the halves and will take on additional playmaking responsibility after an impressive 2025 season that ended with a place in the Kangaroos Ashes squad. The pair's contrasting styles complement each other. Sanders brings calm, game-plan focused decision-making while Strange offers aggressive, instinctive flair.
The pressure on this duo is real. The Green Machine begins its 2026 campaign against Manly, who have Sanders' predecessor Jamal Fogarty at the helm, at Brookvale on Saturday night. A loss to their opening round opponents would be a difficult start for a team expected to contend for the title.
Stuart made clear that he hasn't forgotten last year's disappointment, saying "Everybody's wanted us to forget last year. I've gone the other way. It's important to build on what we gained from last year. We had a wonderful season and it's important not to let go what was good."
For Raiders fans who have waited 32 years for a premiership, Sanders and Strange represent genuine hope. Their success or failure will define not just the 2026 season, but potentially the next decade of the club's trajectory.