Ethan Strange was sunning himself at the Amora Beach Resort in Phuket, Thailand just over a week ago when the name of Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters flashed up on his phone.
asserted
name → sun → phone
Mitchell Moses had broken down with a calf and lower leg muscle tear against New Zealand and been ruled out of the World Cup.
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Moses → break → Cup
Walters needed a back-up playmaker for the remainder of the tournament.
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Walters → need → tournament
He had taken Strange on the Ashes tour last year, but the Canberra star did not get the chance to wear the green and gold.
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star → take → green
So when Walters called, Strange explained that he was only a few days into a well-earned, two-week break in Thailand with his partner, Milayna.
“Stay a couple of extra days, then come back when you’re ready,” Walters told Strange.
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Walters → call → Strange
Now, Strange will finally realise his Kangaroos dream when he makes his debut against the Cook Islands in Townsville on Saturday night.
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he → realise → night
Australia cannot afford to make too many changes after their scare against Fiji on Sunday night, and if anything, need a blowout performance so they head into Sunday’s week’s semi-final with some momentum.
However, Walters has confirmed Strange will feature at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
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Strange → afford → Stadium
How many minutes he gets and where he actually plays is still to be decided.
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he → get → minutes
The versatile 22-year-old can play in the halves, centre, or even at dummy-half or lock forward.
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old → play → half
The Test call-up is a fitting reward for an outstanding young talent who featured for NSW in their Origin series victory this year.
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who → feature → victory
But, he said, “it was Australia or nothing”.
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it → say → ?
“It’s going to be very special, Australia is a country I love dearly,” Strange told this masthead on Monday.
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Strange → go → Monday
“I was in Thailand with my partner a couple of weeks ago when Kev called.
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Kev → call → weeks
He told me to stay a couple of extra days because I was never going to play against Fiji.
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I → tell → Fiji
“I still got to spend about six or seven days there.
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I → get → days
There was no refund for the second week, but I get to play for Australia, which is cool.
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which → be → Australia
I can always go back to Thailand.
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I → go → Thailand
“Kev told me he’d bring me in and give me a game.
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he → tell → game
I’m not bothered how many minutes I get, or where I play.
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I → bother → minutes
“Dad [coach John Strange] used to play me everywhere.
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Dad → use → me
If I have to play front-row, or wing, I’ll give it a crack; I might not be much good, but I’ll give it a go.
uncertain
I → have → go
“I told my mates not to bother coming to Townsville because I’m not sure how many minutes I’ll get.
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I → tell → minutes
I told them I’ll book us all a villa in Thailand, and we can celebrate afterwards.
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we → tell → Thailand
Strange’s call-up will be a welcome boost for the family after his older sister, Jasmin, a premiership winner with the Roosters, ruptured her ACL in training last week.
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sister → rupture → training
Jasmin had debuted for England against France the previous week, and was in line to play in Saturday’s match against the Jillaroos.
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Jasmin → debut → Jillaroos
“It was devastating for her because she’s done her ACL before,” Strange said.
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Strange → do → ACL
“She was grateful she got to represent England a few days earlier.
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she → get → England
We know she’s got a long road back, but she’ll be back stronger.”
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she → know → road
Strange praised Canberra coach Ricky Stuart for helping him reach his potential at such a young age.
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him → praise → age
Stuart made his Kangaroos debut at 23, and only ever wore the green and gold on foreign soil.
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Stuart → make → soil
“‘Sticky’ has been massive for my career,” Strange said.
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Strange → say → career
“I always had dad as my coach, but ‘Stick’ is a really good man.
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Stick → have → coach
“I play better when I have someone I genuinely want to play for and care for, which is Ricky.
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which → play → someone
I value what someone and how they treat you away from the field, which only makes you play better on it.”
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you → value → it
Stuart said of Strange’s call-up: “Ethan got a lot of experience going on the Ashes series last year, even though he didn’t play.
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he → say → series
He was knocking around with Nathan Cleary and Mitch Moses, and from a head coach’s point of view, they’re the kind of people you want him to be knocking around with,” Stuart said.
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Stuart → knock → people
“He came back from England a different player with a different mentality.
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He → come → mentality
To now be making his debut, and so early in his career, it’s a wonderful credit to him and his family.
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it → make → him
The Aporia
