Young Guns Shine in Origin Debut: Strange and McLean Defy Expectations
The age-old adage in rugby league rings true: “Don’t rush them!” Fans have witnessed too many promising talents falter when thrust into the intense spotlight of first-grade football too early. The weight of expectation can shatter confidence, leading to careers that fade before they truly ignite. This apprehension is amplified on the grandest stage of all – State of Origin. Origin shows no mercy to age, talent, or junior accolades. A single subpar performance can haunt a player, with some debutants never getting a second chance.
However, a select few, the one per cent, seem impervious to this pressure. They are born for the big moments, often before they even realise it themselves. On Wednesday night, two such players officially announced their arrival on this elite stage. Ironically, neither was initially expected to play a significant role. Following NSW’s thrilling comeback victory, a buzz in the dressing room, even amidst seasoned representative stars, centred on two names: Ethan Strange and Casey McLean.
Initially earmarked as depth selections, these youngsters were beneficiaries of a six-man bench, allowing coach Laurie Daley to carry specialist cover. But fate intervened just 42 hours before kickoff when Mitchell Moses suffered an injury. Suddenly, Ethan Strange was no longer just a backup. The 21-year-old found himself thrust into the crucial five-eighth position for a State of Origin opener. Astonishingly, he appeared completely at home.
Strange’s NRL debut only occurred in late 2023, and he has barely crossed the 50-game mark in first grade. Yet, there has always been a discernible difference about him. Even in junior representative football, coaches entrusted him in high-pressure situations. During an Under-19s NSW Blues clash, he was shifted to the centres, a position he rarely played, simply because those around him believed in his capability. He responded with a hat-trick and man-of-the-match honours. Last season, he became an integral part of Canberra’s minor premiership-winning side, and many within the club still ponder what their finals campaign might have entailed had illness not sidelined him.
Origin, however, presents an entirely different challenge. It’s faster, louder, and far less forgiving. Despite this, Strange carried himself with the poise of a seasoned veteran. He exuded an aura of belonging, fitting seamlessly into that elite one per cent. His teammates repeatedly used one word to describe him post-match: “unfazed.”
“Not much fazes him (Strange), to be honest,” veteran James Tedesco commented after the game. “We just told him to be himself. He is a strong ball runner, and that’s what he did. Every time he carried it, he was pretty hard to tackle. It was tough losing Mitch, but Strangey coming in and preparing like he was going to play all week, he was in and out in different positions, so happy for him, he is a great kid.”
This innate calmness is an unteachable quality. The ability to slow the game down around oneself is either present or absent. Strange possesses it in abundance. What was particularly striking was not merely his composure but the physical confidence he displayed. He consistently squared up against some of the game’s most formidable forwards, attacked the defensive line without hesitation, and quickly earned the trust of his halves partner, Nathan Cleary. This is the hallmark of the one per cent: while the occasion typically accelerates everyone else, it seems to decelerate for them.
“You’d rather not have that happen two days out from the game, but I thought if there was a player to do it, it would be Ethan,” prop Isaah Yeo remarked. “Nothing seems to overawe him. I just feel like the way we were able to adapt to that and the different style, it makes me very proud. He is ridiculously strong, confident, and I don’t know him well enough, but nothing seems to faze him. He is just one of those players where less is more. The more simple you keep it, it just allows him to attack the game, and he did that tonight.”
As impressive as Strange’s performance was, another debutant was quietly making his own indelible mark: Casey McLean.
If Strange appeared comfortable, McLean seemed utterly fearless. “I thought his (Casey McLean’s) first touch really summed up his character,” Yeo said of his Panthers teammate. “Casey was there to do a job. For a young kid, he is going to be something special,” Tedesco added.
Before kickoff, McLean was arguably the least likely player on the bench to see significant game time. Then, the match erupted. Kalyn Ponga’s high shot on Tolu Koula resulted in both a send-off and a failed HIA, catapulting McLean directly into the thick of the action. What followed felt like an electrifying glimpse into the future of the Blues’ backline. His very first involvement came under a soaring high ball. Instead of easing into the contest, McLean attacked it with aggression, won the aerial duel, and immediately broke through the defensive line. This is another shared trait of the one per cent: they don’t wait for the game to find them; they actively seize it.
This pivotal moment also perfectly encapsulated the confidence that Penrith seems to cultivate and nurture in their young players. McLean only turned 20 this year and has played fewer than 40 NRL games since his debut midway through the 2024 season. Yet, there he was on the Origin stage, playing out of position on the wing – a role even his own coach admits isn’t his natural forte – looking as though he belonged there all along.
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of all is that neither McLean nor Strange seemed fully cognizant of the magnitude of the moment. “It was cool ’cause I had front-row seats to it,” McLean said with a grin, reflecting on Tedesco’s match-winning try. His smile conveyed more than his words. He sounded like a young fan savouring the experience of playing alongside idols he grew up watching, seemingly oblivious to the crucial role he had already played in the game. Strange echoed this same youthful energy post-match. “I just wanted to go out there and try as hard as I could,” he told reporters.
He certainly achieved that. And if Wednesday night proved anything, it’s that the future of NSW rugby league is exceptionally bright, thanks to the composure and courage of these two remarkable young talents.
