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

[Bluesbrother]

The Raiders getting it done yet again. A great addition to the squad.

[Dylan’s Raiders]

1. Chevy Stewart
2. Xavier Savage
3. Seb Kris
4. Matt Timoko
5. Jordan Rapana
6. Kaeo Weekes/Ethan Strange
7. Jamal Fogarty
8. Josh Papali’i
9. Zac Woodford
10. Joseph Tapine
11. Hudson Young
12. Zac Hosking
13. Corey Horsburgh

14. Hohepa Puru
15. Trey Mooney
16. Morgan Smithies
17. Ata Mariota

18. Elliott Whitehead
19. Ethan Strange/Kaeo Weekes
20. Emre Guler
21. Nick Cotric
22. Tom Starling
23. Simi Sasagi
24. James Schiller
25. Albert Hopoate
26. Danny Levi
27. Corey Harawira-Naera
28. Pasami Saulo
29. Peter Hola

Great signing squad is starting to take shape - credit to panthers too as they seemed to work through things on their end promptly too.

[julian87]

Getting him immediately means we’re overpaying him. He’s not the type of edge we needed. Needed strike and power and we got the 2024 version of Jarrad Kennedy.

[-TW-]

Why would you have a b grade second rower tour the facilities and look to sign them a year out from when we need them ?
Makes no sense unless he's already blown us off and Ricky's trying to save face with another rejection

Fair logic.

No it isn’t. Are you trying to say that we shouldn’t speak to anyone that isn’t available for the 2024 season????

This place is a clown show sometimes

Yeah this place sometimes
People like you making up something in your head then saying it's a clown show... put your clown face on and head to your circus.
Dont forget your clown shoes

The clown car is pulling up as we speak

[Sid]

Hoping it's a CHN replacement rather than a Smelly/ David Fifita replacement.. I mean I'd prefer for chn to continue playing, but that's probably not likely

Hopefully we're still going for the Cowboy back rowers or did they re-sign already

[Botman]

Lord know we need an edge forward
But I think 3 years is too long for a player of his calibre. Hopefully this signing means we won’t be forced to play a middle at edge forward as a team named plan on Tuesday’s but I don’t think he’ll be anything particularly special or needle moving but I do think he’ll be a handy addition to the overall squad

Probably a decent sign that chn’s playing days are all but over

[Bluesbrother]

Getting him immediately means we’re overpaying him. He’s not the type of edge we needed. Needed strike and power and we got the 2024 version of Jarrad Kennedy.

Does it? We've given him job security. He isn't a big fish but he certainly enhances our squad. Based on 2023 form he is ahead of CHN, even if he was fully fit.

[Bluesbrother]

1. Chevy Stewart
2. Xavier Savage
3. Seb Kris
4. Matt Timoko
5. Jordan Rapana
6. Kaeo Weekes/Ethan Strange
7. Jamal Fogarty
8. Josh Papali’i
9. Zac Woodford
10. Joseph Tapine
11. Hudson Young
12. Zac Hosking
13. Corey Horsburgh

14. Hohepa Puru
15. Trey Mooney
16. Morgan Smithies
17. Ata Mariota

18. Elliott Whitehead
19. Ethan Strange/Kaeo Weekes
20. Emre Guler
21. Nick Cotric
22. Tom Starling
23. Simi Sasagi
24. James Schiller
25. Albert Hopoate
26. Danny Levi
27. Corey Harawira-Naera
28. Pasami Saulo
29. Peter Hola

Great signing squad is starting to take shape - credit to panthers too as they seemed to work through things on their end promptly too.

You're kidding yourself if you think he is ahead of Whitehead or Smithies.

[Neeeegz]

Why would you have a b grade second rower tour the facilities and look to sign them a year out from when we need them ?
Makes no sense unless he's already blown us off and Ricky's trying to save face with another rejection

Fair logic.

No it isn’t. Are you trying to say that we shouldn’t speak to anyone that isn’t available for the 2024 season????

This place is a clown show sometimes

Yeah this place sometimes
People like you making up something in your head then saying it's a clown show... put your clown face on and head to your circus.
Dont forget your clown shoes

The clown car is pulling up as we speak

Honk honk Hosking

[NoMan]

Glad its for this year, makes a bit more sense that way. Would’ve preferred two years but the clubs in such a weak spot he wouldve been setting the terms, so understandable he wanted security.

[Canberra Milk]

Love this signing. Provides reasonable quality in a position we need it

[Dylan’s Raiders]

1. Chevy Stewart
2. Xavier Savage
3. Seb Kris
4. Matt Timoko
5. Jordan Rapana
6. Kaeo Weekes/Ethan Strange
7. Jamal Fogarty
8. Josh Papali’i
9. Zac Woodford
10. Joseph Tapine
11. Hudson Young
12. Zac Hosking
13. Corey Horsburgh

14. Hohepa Puru
15. Trey Mooney
16. Morgan Smithies
17. Ata Mariota

18. Elliott Whitehead
19. Ethan Strange/Kaeo Weekes
20. Emre Guler
21. Nick Cotric
22. Tom Starling
23. Simi Sasagi
24. James Schiller
25. Albert Hopoate
26. Danny Levi
27. Corey Harawira-Naera
28. Pasami Saulo
29. Peter Hola

Great signing squad is starting to take shape - credit to panthers too as they seemed to work through things on their end promptly too.

You're kidding yourself if you think he is ahead of Whitehead or Smithies.

Smithies doesn’t play second row and yes I think he should be ahead of Whitehead. I understand Whitehead will start the year at 12 - doesn’t mean he the better option

[Bluesbrother]

1. Chevy Stewart
2. Xavier Savage
3. Seb Kris
4. Matt Timoko
5. Jordan Rapana
6. Kaeo Weekes/Ethan Strange
7. Jamal Fogarty
8. Josh Papali’i
9. Zac Woodford
10. Joseph Tapine
11. Hudson Young
12. Zac Hosking
13. Corey Horsburgh

14. Hohepa Puru
15. Trey Mooney
16. Morgan Smithies
17. Ata Mariota

18. Elliott Whitehead
19. Ethan Strange/Kaeo Weekes
20. Emre Guler
21. Nick Cotric
22. Tom Starling
23. Simi Sasagi
24. James Schiller
25. Albert Hopoate
26. Danny Levi
27. Corey Harawira-Naera
28. Pasami Saulo
29. Peter Hola

Great signing squad is starting to take shape - credit to panthers too as they seemed to work through things on their end promptly too.

You're kidding yourself if you think he is ahead of Whitehead or Smithies.

Smithies doesn’t play second row and yes I think he should be ahead of Whitehead. I understand Whitehead will start the year at 12 - doesn’t mean he the better option

Smithies does play second row.

[GreenMachine]

Getting him immediately means we’re overpaying him. He’s not the type of edge we needed. Needed strike and power and we got the 2024 version of Jarrad Kennedy.

Exactly.
Average overpaid plodder IMO...

[Dylan’s Raiders]

1. Chevy Stewart
2. Xavier Savage
3. Seb Kris
4. Matt Timoko
5. Jordan Rapana
6. Kaeo Weekes/Ethan Strange
7. Jamal Fogarty
8. Josh Papali’i
9. Zac Woodford
10. Joseph Tapine
11. Hudson Young
12. Zac Hosking
13. Corey Horsburgh

14. Hohepa Puru
15. Trey Mooney
16. Morgan Smithies
17. Ata Mariota

18. Elliott Whitehead
19. Ethan Strange/Kaeo Weekes
20. Emre Guler
21. Nick Cotric
22. Tom Starling
23. Simi Sasagi
24. James Schiller
25. Albert Hopoate
26. Danny Levi
27. Corey Harawira-Naera
28. Pasami Saulo
29. Peter Hola

Great signing squad is starting to take shape - credit to panthers too as they seemed to work through things on their end promptly too.

You're kidding yourself if you think he is ahead of Whitehead or Smithies.

Smithies doesn’t play second row and yes I think he should be ahead of Whitehead. I understand Whitehead will start the year at 12 - doesn’t mean he the better option

Smithies does play second row.

There is a difference between playing second row and can play second row. He played 105 ESL games with only 10 on the edge so no I would not say he is a second rower.

In his interviews, he also says loose middle is his preferred position.

[Canberra Milk]

"Not the type of edge we needed" - we're never in the race for the top tier ones, and those would have cost a fortune anyway (much more than Hosking, even if we overpaid). This is the type of signing that the Raiders can and should make

[LimeGreenMachine]

This isn't a bad signing, I'm going to assume we will get value for money. He comes from a Panthers system , he will be professional in his approach to the game.
Welcome Zac.

[Finchy]

I hope he kills it, but didn't he get shafted for Garner in the GF after Garner spent half the year in reserve grade?

I feel like "Panther Zac Hosking" and "Raiders Zac Hosking" will be two different entities, much like "Panthers Scott Sorensen" and "Raiders Scott Sorenson".

Still, we needed a backrower and a backrower he is

[julian87]

I hope he kills it, but didn't he get shafted for Garner in the GF after Garner spent half the year in reserve grade?

Yep. Hosking got dropped for the prelim.

[greeneyed]

Raiders land prized Penrith recruit amid brace for generational change

Zac Hosking will move to Canberra on a three-year deal as the Raiders begin to bolster their back-row stocks. Hosking has been granted an immediate release from the final year of his contract with the Penrith Panthers, allowing Ricky Stuart to land the 26 year old until the end of 2026.

Read more: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/ ... /?cs=14239

Canberra Raiders land key target Zac Hosking ahead of 2024 NRL season: https://canberradaily.com.au/raiders-na ... ack-boost/

Hosking to depart Panthers

Penrith Panthers has granted Zac Hosking an immediate release from the club to pursue an opportunity at another NRL club for the 2024 season.

Hosking joined the Panthers at the start of the 2023 season and went on to play 21 NRL games in the premiership-winning season.

“After coming to the Panthers and being an integral member of the 2023 squad, we always knew keeping Zac at the club beyond 2024 would always be an uphill battle,” Panthers Rugby League CEO Matt Cameron said.

“Making this decision now gives the club the opportunity to promote from within our full time squad.

“We thank Zac for his service to our club and wish him the best of luck with his future endeavours.”

Penrith Panthers media release

[-PJ-]

Welcome to Canberra Zac.

[Bluesbrother]

1. Chevy Stewart
2. Xavier Savage
3. Seb Kris
4. Matt Timoko
5. Jordan Rapana
6. Kaeo Weekes/Ethan Strange
7. Jamal Fogarty
8. Josh Papali’i
9. Zac Woodford
10. Joseph Tapine
11. Hudson Young
12. Zac Hosking
13. Corey Horsburgh

14. Hohepa Puru
15. Trey Mooney
16. Morgan Smithies
17. Ata Mariota

18. Elliott Whitehead
19. Ethan Strange/Kaeo Weekes
20. Emre Guler
21. Nick Cotric
22. Tom Starling
23. Simi Sasagi
24. James Schiller
25. Albert Hopoate
26. Danny Levi
27. Corey Harawira-Naera
28. Pasami Saulo
29. Peter Hola

Great signing squad is starting to take shape - credit to panthers too as they seemed to work through things on their end promptly too.

You're kidding yourself if you think he is ahead of Whitehead or Smithies.

Smithies doesn’t play second row and yes I think he should be ahead of Whitehead. I understand Whitehead will start the year at 12 - doesn’t mean he the better option

Smithies does play second row.

There is a difference between playing second row and can play second row. He played 105 ESL games with only 10 on the edge so no I would not say he is a second rower.

In his interviews, he also says loose middle is his preferred position.

At the time of his signing with us he was bought in to cover a decrease in minutes from Whitehead. With Hosking coming immediately that may change. One thing is for sure, our pack is going to be very competitive and there will be a lot of disappointed players playing NSW cup.

[zim]

Good signing to get him here straight away and fill a big need. We can use spare cap to front load and chase a bigger fish for 25 and beyond.

[kiwi raider]

Don't expect him to be a superstar but we were in desperate need to get an edge this year, probably weren't too many realistic options, I think he can do a job and be a decent squad filler if he's being paid accordingly

[The Ang]

This is a good signing. What’s Penrith’s hooker depth like can we send Levi their way in compensation

[PNGRaider37]

Good signing. Will be a solid contributor. Nicey done Ricky Donny #ShakeNBake

[Botman]

Don't expect him to be a superstar but we were in desperate need to get an edge this year, probably weren't too many realistic options, I think he can do a job and be a decent squad filler if he's being paid accordingly

Said exactly how i feel in much less words.

[Botman]

Smithies doesn’t play second row and yes I think he should be ahead of Whitehead. I understand Whitehead will start the year at 12 - doesn’t mean he the better option

This is spot on too btw.
As i highlighted last year, EW was one of the worst edge forwards in the entire competition. If you ignored EW's standing in the team and what he's done for this club prior, and even understanding Hosking is FAR from a superstar and was made to look better than he was due to the panthers system, but just looking at 2023 and how they performed, Hosking should start over EW. He won't and i dont even he is in our top 17 (or shouldnt be unless EW is not in the team) but he's probably a better player right now than EW.

Also, Hosking is the sort of player i mean when i say "warm body. Just someone who exists, fills a role and does his job without being noticably bad or good.

[Raidernation]

Where this becomes interesting is the bench.

Starling
Hors
Hosking (30mins of Whitehead starting or off the bench)
Mariota/guler/saulo/mooney fighting for one spot.

[BadnMean]

The club finally has two zacs to rub together.

We needed a decent edge. Hosking is a decent edge.

I hope he's as reliable for us as he was for Panthers. He was relatively late to FG footy too, so maybe more development to come.

Seems like one of those "very effective in a good program" type players so I'm not expecting a barnstorming Young type player. Hopefully he gives Fogarty a bit more to work with running lines in attack.

This firms Smithies as a lock option I think.

[Danaman137]

Where this becomes interesting is the bench.

Starling
Hors
Hosking (30mins of Whitehead starting or off the bench)
Mariota/guler/saulo/mooney fighting for one spot.

That was my concern too. Even if you run Puru at 14 (which we should) you run into the same issue in one of Mooney/Mariota missing out. And that’s assuming Stick doesn’t pick Guler or Saulo ahead of them both.


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[Seiffert82]

Solid. I like it.

Tells me we are focussing on improving our defence this season.

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[BadnMean]

Solid. I like it.

Tells me we are focussing on improving our defence this season.

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Hmm we chased Fifita and Leilua first...

[greeneyed]

[Ruben Daley]

Good solid signing in a position we’re very shallow in.

I don’t see any other recruits for 2024, so the season is now largely dependent on playing our best guys in their best positions. Gulp.