Canberra‘s halfback stocks have been rattled again with back-up playmaker Brad Schneider testing positive to COVID-19.
Schneider slotted in at halfback for the Raiders’ opening-round win over the Sharks on Friday, but he won’t be available to meet the Cowboys in Townsville on Saturday.
Canberra coach Ricky Stuart had resorted to using Schneider after primary halfback Jamal Fogarty suffered a knee injury during a trial match. Fogarty is expected to be sidelined until mid-June at the earliest.
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The latest blow has left Stuart tossing up between Sam Williams and Matt Frawley to play at halfback against the Cowboys.
Williams played at five-eighth and Frawley at halfback as the Raiders’ NSW Cup side lost to the Jets on Saturday.
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Williams has played 107 NRL games since debuting in 2011, while Frawley has racked up 37 first-grade matches since debuting in 2017.
Fogarty had been lured from the Titans on a three-year deal to replace English halfback George Williams, who departed the Raiders in a messy exit in May last year.
Stuart’s plan was for Fogarty to partner five-eighth Jack Wighton in the halves from the get-go, but he’s been made to deal with a nightmare.
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