We love the mighty Canberra Raiders
It was meant to be the season Xavier Savage established himself as an NRL fullback.
But a broken jaw in a pre-season trial was the beginning of a stop-start 2023 that never got going.
Even when he strung a few games together in NSW Cup at the end of the season he played on the wing - with Chevy Stewart preferred at fullback.
In a stunning revelation, Zac Hosking, the Canberra Raiders' latest addition, has disclosed that he "begged" his former team, the Penrith Panthers, to release him from his contract.
The 2023 NRL season saw Hosking struggle to secure a consistent position on both the Panthers and Broncos teams, leaving him disappointed after missing out on the highly anticipated NRL Grand Final.
Having migrated from the Brisbane Broncos to the Penrith Panthers, Hosking managed to participate in 21 games under the mountainous franchise.
However, he ultimately sought an opportunity with the Raiders, convincing the Panthers to allow him an early contract termination in order to compete under the mentorship of Ricky Stuart until at least the conclusion of 2026.
The Canberra Raiders newest recruit, Zac Hosking, has admitted that he "begged" his former team to release him from his contract.
Preparing to appear for his third NRL team in three years, Hosking has struggled to maintain a regular spot in the team for the Panthers and Broncos and was unlucky to miss out on competing in the 2023 NRL Grand Final.
Hosking, who moved from the Brisbane Broncos to the Penrith Panthers ahead of the 2023 campaign, managed 21 games for the men from the foot of the mountains in 2023 and was due to be off-contract at the end of 2024.