Other options may have emerged elsewhere but Ethan Sanders, fresh off a quality season at the Canberra Raiders is staying with the club.
Sanders, who did debut for the club in 2025, only made a name for himself in 2026 as the replacement for the outgoing Jamal Fogarty.
The new deal for Sanders runs until the end of the 2028 season with the half admitting the decision to stay on board was an easy one.
“Two years ago, the club put a lot of faith in me to bring me down to Canberra,” Sanders said.
“I can’t thank Ricky enough for all the belief he’s given me, and I just want to repay that now,” Sanders said.
Sanders admits that winning the 2026 NRL Rookie of the Year took him by surprise.
“I was honestly just happy to be at the Dally M’s and rub shoulders with some of the best in the game,” Sanders continued.
“To win the Rookie of the Year was a huge surprise but it’s a testament to the players I have around me.”
Raiders NRL Recruitment Manager Chris Hutchison says the club are pleased to retain Sanders for two more seasons.
“Ethan had a great 2026 season, and we were impressed with the way he was able to lead the team to some memorable wins,” Hutchison said,
Ethan has shown strong maturity since arriving in 2025 and brought a level of calmness and professionalism to the Raiders.”