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Canberra have been dealt a big blow ahead of Saturday night’s semi-final against Cronulla with star five-eighth Ethan Strange ruled out with illness.

Strange has battled the flu all week, and despite completing Friday’s captain’s run, his condition deteriorated overnight.

The club doctor spoke with Strange first thing Saturday and the decision was made to rule him out.

Simi Sasagi will move into the halves alongside Jamal Fogarty, while the Raiders had to seek approval from the NRL to bring Matty Nicholson on to the bench.

Strange has been brilliant for the Green Machine all season, and scored a try in Sunday’s 94-minute marathon loss to the Broncos. There has even been talk about him being a bolter for Kevin Walters’ Kangaroo tour at the end of the season.

All eyes will be o

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