When Jed Stuart flick-passed the ball at the Raiders’ match against Manly on Friday, he didn’t know if anyone was there to catch it.

It ended up in the hands of five-eighth Ethan Strange, who scored his third try of the match in Canberra’s 28-12 victory at GIO Stadium on 8 August.

“Just in different weeks, I’ve been running down the sideline, and I’d have a different option whether to pass or kick,” Jed told CD.

“But (Tom) Trbojevic was kind of coming across and cutting off the kick.

“And (Jason) Saab was there and if I passed, he would have got a hand on it.

“So, I just thought ‘I gotta pretend like I’m getting tackled and throw it out’ and lucky enough Ethan (Strange) was there.

“It wasn’t quite to the chest, so he did a real good job to hang onto it.”

Jed said he knew it was a backwards pass but thought the ball was too low to the ground.

“And I’m like ‘Oh, no one’s got that,’” he said.

“Then I rolled over, I looked up and Strangey’s running for the try line, so I think that’s why I got so excited he scored because I was like, ‘How the hell did he catch that?’” Jed laughed.

“So then I watched a replay, and he just got it by the one hand.”

After joining the Raiders in 2022, starting with the Jersey Flegg and going on to play 57 NSW Cup games, Jed’s family presented him with his first NRL Jersey on 16 June. He has also represented Australia in rugby sevens.

The winger made his first-grade debut in round 16 this year, surrounded by family and friends, including his father, coach Ricky Stuart.

Jed has scored four tries in seven appearances, including one on debut against the Tigers, and also has two try assists to his name.

“Both to Strangey, actually,” Jed laughed.

“He got me a few tries early when I started playing and now I’m getting him some back.”

But it’s not the tries that have defined Jed’s good start to his NRL career.

“It feels great. I don’t judge my game off tries and whatnot,” he said.

“I do judge my game on the off-ball efforts and defensive movements.

“So, I’ve been pretty happy with those factors. I guess the tries are just a cherry on the cake.”

Jed said despite not having undertaken a full season yet, making the finals would be surreal.

“The boys have locked in a final spot already and we’re not even in September yet,” he said.

“So it’s pretty unreal, the vibe around the town’s pretty good

“And I’m just happy to have a little slice of it.”

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