Preparing to play for his third NRL club in as many years, Canberra signing Zac Hosking says he can see similarities between his new side and all-conquering Penrith.
The second-rower says he “begged” the Panthers to release him from the last year of his contact so he could join the Raiders, something the three-time reigning champions granted him last week.
Hosking joined Penrith from Brisbane ahead of the 2023 campaign but had to watch on from the reserves list when the two teams met in September’s grand final.
At the Raiders, where he’s signed a three-year deal, he’ll compete with captain Elliott Whitehead and State of Origin forward Hudson Young for the two starting back-rower slots.
But given Canberra’s desperation to get him to the club and prepare for life after Whitehead retires at the end of the season, he appears set for a big role in Ricky Stuart’s side.
“Canberra made a play for me before I signed with Penrith, and I nearly came, but opted to go with Penrith,” Hosking told reporters on Tuesday.
“When I became off-contract on November 1 they were pretty quick to come back in to try and get me again, straightaway I knew they really valued me.
“I had to weigh-up the options … this is certainly the best one; not just contract-wise but being able to play in the NRL every week as well and develop my game.
“I had to beg and ask if (Penrith) would let me go, so it took a while for that to happen.
“But luckily for me, they parked the business stuff and saw it from my perspective and let me go.”
Hosking insisted he was not guaranteed a starting slot, describing the Canberra forward pack as “one of the best and most experienced” in the competition.
In his early days at the Green Machine, the 26-year-old says he’s seen similarities to the juggernaut Panthers in the way the side approaches things, particularly the attention to detail at Canberra.
“There’s some of the best players in their respective positions in that side, and they’re not content with where they are,” he said.
“If they can continually try to improve, then why can’t everyone else?
“It’s been pretty similar since I’ve got here. The boys go straight to the video room and watch themselves train, go up and see the coaches – that’s something that’s no different from Penrith.”
By Alex Mitchell in Canberra
