The brutal misfortune the Raiders copped during the finals series was again laid bare when gun playmaker Ethan Strange was unveiled as Dally M Five-eighth of the Year at Royal Randwick Racecourse on Wednesday night.
Strange, in a dagger to Raiders hearts, was floored by the flu in the days leading up to Canberra's sudden-death clash with Cronulla.
On the morning of game day, the 21-year-old was ruled out. Hours later, a Canberra side that without Strange was a shell of itself had been eliminated.
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That loss to the Sharks, a 32-12 defeat in Canberra, followed a qualifying final clash at home to the Broncos in which the Raiders twice had the game "won", only to ultimately go down 29-28 following a series of controversial refereeing decisions.
So although Strange's Dally M nod was another tantalising indication for Raiders fans of the youngster's talent, it was also a hard-to-swallow reminder of the misfortune Canberra was dealt in its bid to break a 31-year premiership drought.
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As Ricky Stuart spoke on stage at the Dally M Awards after being announced as Coach of the Year, there was understandably a flatness about the insatiable Raiders mentor.
"Personally, I believe we should still be in the competition, and I'm biased, and probably competitive," Stuart said, drawing laughter.
"I'm disappointed that we're not.
"But it'll give us fight, and that's what you've got to do.
"Over the last couple of weeks it's been very hard, because you're not involved and you've got a team that's good enough to be involved.
"It's been dreadfully hard."
Last week, Strange was named at five-eighth in the RLPA's players' dream team.
And in addition to making the Dally M Team of the Year on Wednesday night, he claimed the Tackle of the Year award — a nod to the remarkable try-saving effort he pulled off to stop Bulldogs fullback Connor Tracey in Canberra in round 10.
Strange was named in the halves in the Team of the Year alongside four-time premiership-winning Panthers No.7 Nathan Cleary.
James Tedesco, who on Wednesday night became a dual Dally M Medal winner, was named at fullback.
Former Wallaby and Paris 2024 Olympian Mark Nawaqanitawase was named on one wing. The other wing spot was awarded to Melbourne flyer Xavier Coates, who on Sunday night will run out to face Brisbane in the grand final.
Broncos gun Kotoni Staggs and Bulldogs skipper Stephen Crichton were named in the centres.
Addin Fonua-Blake was named in the front row in a nod to his superb first season with the Sharks. Broncos powerhouse Payne Haas snapped up the other front-row spot.
The second-row spots were filled by Melbourne's Eliesa Katoa and Canberra's Hudson Young.
The Warriors' Erin Clark got the nod at lock, and Cronulla's Blayke Brailey at hooker.
NRL Team of the Year
Fullback: James Tedesco
Wingers: Mark Nawaqanitawase, Xavier Coates
Centres: Kotoni Staggs, Stephen Crichton
Five-eighth: Ethan Strange
Halfback: Nathan Cleary
Props: Addin Fonua-Blake, Payne Haas
Hooker: Blayke Brailey
Second-rowers: Eliesa Katoa, Hudson Young
Lock: Erin Clark
Nine.com.au's NRL Team of the Year
Fullback: James Tedesco
Winger: Xavier Coates
Centre: Herbie Farnworth
Five-eighth: Ethan Strange
Halfback: Isaiya Katoa
Prop: Payne Haas
Hooker: Harry Grant
Second-rower: Eliesa Katoa
Lock: Erin Clark
NRLW Team of the Year
Fullback: Tamika Upton
Wingers: Payton Takimoana, Sheridan Gallagher
Centres: Isabelle Kelly, Julia Robinson
Five-eighth: Gayle Broughton
Halfback: Jesse Southwell
Props: Ellie Johnston, Jessika Elliston
Hooker: Emma Manzelmann
Second-rowers: Romy Teitzel, Yasmin Clydsdale
Lock: Olivia Kernick
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