Overview

• The club said Strange fell ill overnight and was ruled out of the Canberra–Cronulla semi-final.
• Simi Sasagi moves into the starting halves next to Jamal Fogarty, with Matty Nicholson added to the bench and Danny Levi named 18th man.
• Strange’s unavailability removes a primary attacking threat in a breakout season that has him touted for Dally M five-eighth of the year.
• Sasagi has not previously started an NRL game in the halves, adding uncertainty to Canberra’s playmaking setup.
• The winner advances to face Melbourne at AAMI Park next Friday, after Ricky Stuart had earlier indicated he expected a fully fit squad.