Zac Hosking signs with the Raiders on three year deal from 2024

[UncleDrew]

[Botman]

Boy that would be underwhelming.

[Dylan’s Raiders]

Yeah I don’t mind him as a player but he is well down my list… surely it’s not just him we are after

Edit: looks like we are trying to get him for 2024 as well so I wouldn’t be surprised if we are after someone else well. Doesn’t turn 27 until February so plenty of good footy left in in him.

Penrith forward tours Canberra’s facilities ahead of potential move: https://www.sen.com.au/news/2023/12/13/ ... tial-move/

[greeneyed]

Penrith Panthers second rower Zac Hosking tours Canberra Raiders HQ ahead of potential move

The Canberra Raiders are close to securing the services of Penrith Panthers forward Zac Hosking after he toured the club's training facilities on Wednesday afternoon. Hosking is free to talk with rival clubs with his contract expiring in 12 months but is a serious chance of lining up for the Raiders in Round 1 next year if he is granted an early release.

The 26-year-old was a revelation for the reigning premiers in the regular season, making 21 appearances primarily in the second row whilst showing his versatility off the bench and in the backline.

Read more: https://www.sen.com.au/news/2023/12/13/ ... tial-move/

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pr ... eec8d38579

ZAC HOSKING BIOGRAPHY

Height: 198 cm
Date of Birth: 26 February 1997
Weight: 97 kg
Birthplace: Manly, NSW
Age: 26
Nickname: Mule
Debut Club: Brisbane Broncos
Date: 10 July 2022
Opposition: St George Illawarra Dragons
Round: 17
Clubs: Newcastle Knights (NSW Cup 2018-2021, 43 matches)
Brisbane Broncos 2022 Four NRL Matches (Wynnum Manly Seagulls, Queensland Cup, 15 matches)
Penrith Panthers 2023 21 NRL matches (NSW Cup, one match)
NRL positions: Second row (18 games), Centre (two games), Bench (five games)
Junior Club: Central Newcastle Butcher Boys

Hosking played four NRL games for the Brisbane Broncos in 2022 after making his first grade debut against St George Illawarra in Round 17. The Central Newcastle Butcher Boys junior previously played at the Knights, where he was named the NSW Cup Player of the Year on two consecutive occasions.

[Matt]

Boy that would be underwhelming.

He's not Fifita or 1 of the Cows guys, no. But he's a useful edge player. He's a workrate guy. Can run a good line too.

[Botman]

Yeah im not saying he's a bum or that he cant help us... just looking for something more at edge forward than a solid respectable FGer

[UncleDrew]

Very nice!

[Matt]

Yeah im not saying he's a bum or that he cant help us... just looking for something more at edge forward than a solid respectable FGer

I've said it all along, we are short a big nasty. However, I suspect during a rebuilding phase, we are looking for guys who love the dirty stuff. Could be a lot of tackling in our 2024 season.

[kiwi raider]

Yeah im not saying he's a bum or that he cant help us... just looking for something more at edge forward than a solid respectable FGer

yea hard to know without knowing what sort of money we are offering.
If we're going after him after missing out on the likes of Fifita, Olakau'atu, kolomatangi then its a massive step down.
If he's here to cover CHN and his contract is low/subsidised he's probably a handy squad player who can play second row and centre at a pinch

[Matt]

He's not Fifita or 1 of the Cows guys, but he's a useful edge player. He's a workrate guy. Can run a good line too. Solid 1st grader.

I've said it all along, we are short a big nasty. However, I suspect during a rebuilding phase, we are looking for guys who love the dirty stuff. Could be a lot of tackling in our 2024 season.

[Neeeegz]

Raiders type signing and did catch my eye in some game somewhere I was watching after about 6 beers, he might pay off, actually,
Who is the defence coach this year ? He's got a few tackling machines added to the squad if this is true

[greeneyed]

Can’t be the replacement for Whitehead, but good extra depth in the second row, badly needed next year.

[Neeeegz]

He's not Fifita or 1 of the Cows guys, but he's a useful edge player. He's a workrate guy. Can run a good line too. Solid 1st grader.

I've said it all along, we are short a big nasty. However, I suspect during a rebuilding phase, we are looking for guys who love the dirty stuff. Could be a lot of tackling in our 2024 season.

With Smithies, that's 100 tackles a game taken care of at least lol

[President Clinton]

He's not Fifita or 1 of the Cows guys, but he's a useful edge player. He's a workrate guy. Can run a good line too. Solid 1st grader.

I've said it all along, we are short a big nasty. However, I suspect during a rebuilding phase, we are looking for guys who love the dirty stuff. Could be a lot of tackling in our 2024 season.

Hors is a bit of a firebrand. I think Smithies might be too.

[Botman]

Can’t be the replacement for Whitehead, but good extra depth in the second row, badly needed next year.

I think we need two edge forwards, one for depth and potetnially replacing CHN in the roster, and another legit starter... Hoskings would be the potential CHN squad replacement, he's a solid respectable fger. Think we should still be on hunt for a needle mover at the position.

We're going to be very cheap in the next few years at key spine positions, we have the opportunity to give Sanders/Strange and Stewart a strike weapon to use. Hoskings isnt that. But he'd be a good addition albeit a little underwhelming

[thevikingclap on ig]

Helps out our depth in the edge a lot. Would only be behind EW and Young here rather than Martin and Sorensen at Penrith. Would be a good move for both parties.

[Matt]

Can’t be the replacement for Whitehead, but good extra depth in the second row, badly needed next year.

Why can't he?
He's already better than Whitey

[Matt]

He's not Fifita or 1 of the Cows guys, but he's a useful edge player. He's a workrate guy. Can run a good line too. Solid 1st grader.

I've said it all along, we are short a big nasty. However, I suspect during a rebuilding phase, we are looking for guys who love the dirty stuff. Could be a lot of tackling in our 2024 season.

With Smithies, that's 100 tackles a game taken care of at least lol

Yup

[Matt]

He's not Fifita or 1 of the Cows guys, but he's a useful edge player. He's a workrate guy. Can run a good line too. Solid 1st grader.

I've said it all along, we are short a big nasty. However, I suspect during a rebuilding phase, we are looking for guys who love the dirty stuff. Could be a lot of tackling in our 2024 season.

Hors is a bit of a firebrand. I think Smithies might be too.

Yes. I see 2 peas in a pod there.

I dont mean angry when I say big nasty, I mean a Fifita, Koloamatangi, Olakau'ato type. Big tough to handle guy.

[Matt]

Can’t be the replacement for Whitehead, but good extra depth in the second row, badly needed next year.

I think we need two edge forwards, one for depth and potetnially replacing CHN in the roster, and another legit starter... Hoskings would be the potential CHN squad replacement, he's a solid respectable fger. Think we should still be on hunt for a needle mover at the position.

We're going to be very cheap in the next few years at key spine positions, we have the opportunity to give Sanders/Strange and Stewart a strike weapon to use. Hoskings isnt that. But he'd be a good addition albeit a little underwhelming

100% agree.
I hope we are still hunting a cowboy

[-TW-]

Hoskings been good in the games I've seen

Wouldn't be unhappy if he comes

[Raidernation]

He is surprisingly tall.
He is the type of signing that a Craig Bellamy would make to keep money in the cap for your stars and turns out to be surprisingly good but not a star.
His height provides some options for the short cross field kick in attack and seems to run hard.
Interesting option.

[greeneyed]

Can’t be the replacement for Whitehead, but good extra depth in the second row, badly needed next year.

Why can't he?
He's already better than Whitey

He’s almost 27 years old with only 25 NRL matches to his name, played a good number for the Panthers last year, but dropped for the finals. Solid, fringe first grader.

[Wiki Special]

I like Hosking and think he is a good signing who is a bit of a moneyball type in that he'll give us more than his cost would indicate. But I'm not gonna lie, when I read on Fox Sports that "Raiders poach Panthers gun" I felt pretty let down it wasn't an actual Panthers gun.

[RedRaider]

I see him as a journeyman depth signing. Panthers got good value out of him this past season but turning 27 in February next year, he is a late bloomer. I really hope we are still on the hunt for Kulikefu Finefeuiaki.

[FROG]

Another knights junior (sigh) but looks like he could be a handy pick up. Having won consequtive nsw cup player of the year awards, he feels like a bloke who just needs a chance. The following was said of him by the knights after winning one of those awards...

Comfortable at lock and on the edge, Hosking crossed for two tries, ran for over 1200 metres and made more than 400 tackles at over 93% efficiency.

"Zac was absolutely outstanding, he was one of our leaders on and off the field," NSW Cup Coach Andrew Ryan said.

"He drove all of our intensity at training, can play in the middle as a lock or on the edge if he had too, scoring tries and saving tries in both positions.

[NoMan]

Ok player, but I get the feeling he will be getting a huge deal for a 27 year old career back up.

[BadnMean]

He is surprisingly tall.
He is the type of signing that a Craig Bellamy would make to keep money in the cap for your stars and turns out to be surprisingly good but not a star.
His height provides some options for the short cross field kick in attack and seems to run hard.
Interesting option.

The height in this thread is a typo.

He's not a 2m tall Sean Lane type guy.

He's a "normal" height backrower. Makes his tackles, not many errors or penalties kind of guy.

[Matt]

Can’t be the replacement for Whitehead, but good extra depth in the second row, badly needed next year.

Why can't he?
He's already better than Whitey

He’s almost 27 years old with only 25 NRL matches to his name, played a good number for the Panthers last year, but dropped for the finals. Solid, fringe first grader.

He's a better than that. And still better than the current version of Whitey

[Neeeegz]

I see him as a journeyman depth signing. Panthers got good value out of him this past season but turning 27 in February next year, he is a late bloomer. I really hope we are still on the hunt for Kulikefu Finefeuiaki.

I saw somewhere maybe fox yesterday that Finefeuiaki had signed an extension with the Cowboys, so I doubt he's gonna be coming to us

[NoMan]

Yeah, he is a very "Ricky" player from what I have seen but he will fit into the system quickly. Hasn't played 80 much so that would be a question mark long term. I would guess its a long deal on good money since there would be no incentive to come and play off the bench for at least a year and likely longer otherwise.

[dubby]

Perhaps a replacement for CHN?

[julian87]

Jarrad Kennedy MKII tbh.

[Ruben Daley]

Solid signing but doesn't get the heart racing.

He'll be a great signing if we add a higher calibre second-rower to the team as well. Hudson, Whitehead, Hosking and Luciano/similar player fighting for two starting and one bench spot would be great for depth and competition.

[Finchy]

Probably like Scott Sorensen. Complete plodder in any team other than the Panthers.