Josh Papali'i relishing Maroons' State of Origin recall against Blues in series decider
The 33-year-old was in hospital with wife Mesepa and baby son Jeremiah when Maroons coach Billy Slater called to ask if he wanted to make a 24th and final Origin appearance.
"I missed the first couple of calls because my little fella and my wife were still in hospital at the time and there were a few complications with my little one," Papali'i said.
"I spoke to Bill when I had that little break and he asked me one question, if I had one more game in me, and I replied with an 'F-bomb' and said, 'Yes, I had one more left'.
"Hopefully I can go out there next week and put on a good performance."
Papali'i last played for the Maroons in 2022 and had retired from representative football.
He is playing his final season in Canberra this year and has been in career-best form.
The Maroons are looking for extra punch in the middle for the Origin decider in Sydney on July 9 and Papali'i was the obvious choice for one last hurrah.
"It's definitely my last. I'm obviously just looking forward to it and soaking in the week," Papali'i said.
"I'm still buzzing just being back in maroon. I just need to work hard and turn up next week and hopefully perform.
"I was happily retired. I was happy to just slug away down in Canberra. We're going pretty well down in the capital as well.
"When I saw the first couple of missed calls (from Slater), I just didn't know what to expect. And obviously I spoke to Bill and it's very nice to be back."
ABC Sport will have live blog coverage of the State of Origin series.
In camp on the Sunshine Coast with the Maroons squad, Papali'i was as refreshed on Thursday as he had ever been in recent times.
"It's the best sleep I've had in a few weeks," Papali'i grinned.
"Last night was good. I had one of the boys come and wake me up."
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Daily Telegraph
an hour ago
- Daily Telegraph
Michael Voss makes ‘unusual' coaches box move, ‘horrible' Carlton leaves him on the brink
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Daily Telegraph
an hour ago
- Daily Telegraph
Ray Thomas' horse racing tips: Saturday, July 5, 2025
Trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr have ambitions of a feature-race treble across three states on Saturday. At Rosehill Gardens, their classy import Welwal ($8) looks ready to win in the Listed $200,000 Winter Stakes (1400m). Then on Finals Day at Flemington, the Price-Kent stable has promising three-year-old filly Knobelas ($2.25 favourite) chasing a hat-trick of in the Silver Bowl Series Final (1600m) and two-year-old Job Done ($3.10) trying to maintain the perfect start to his race career in the TAB Next Generation Sprinters Final (1200m). Price and Kent also have chances in two of the stakes races at the Sunshine Coast – Grand Impact ($16) in the Listed $300,000 Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) and Hezashocka ($13) in the Listed $300,000 Caloundra Cup (2400m). • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Meanwhile, there has been some significant betting moves for Ciaron Maher's boom filly She's An Artist ($1.60 favourite) for the Listed $175,000 Creswick Stakes (1400m) at Flemington, her stablemate Warnie ($2.90 favourite) for the Glasshouse Handicap at Sunshine Coast, and also at Rosehill Gardens for the Joe Pride-trained Cosmonova ($15) for the Foundation Female Member Handicap (1200m). She's An Artist, brilliant winner of her only two starts, opened at $1.80 but is into $1.60 after some big bets with Ladbrokes including $1000 at $1.80 twice, $2000 twice, $1000 4 times, $700 and $650 at $1.75, $1500 and $1300 three times at $1.70 and $1300 at $1.55. Warnie opened at $3.20 but has firmed into $2.80 to win the Glasshouse while Cosmonova's odds have been slashed at Rosehill from $26 to $15 as she attempts to protect her unbeaten record when third-up from a spell. • Caloundra Cup favourite out to show Caulfield Cup quality ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ TRACK CONDITIONS ROSEHILL GARDENS Weather: Cool, mostly sunny day and a forecast top temperature of 17c. Track: Heavy (8). Rail: 8m out from the 1000m to the winning post, 7m remainder. FLEMINGTON Weather: Cool, partly cloudy day with a forecast top temperature of 16c. Track: Soft (6). Rail: True. SUNSHINE COAST Weather: Mild, partly cloudy day with a forecast top temperature of 22c. Track: Soft (6). Rail: True. GAWLER Weather: Cool, cloudy day with the chance of showers and a forecast top temperature of 16c. Track: Soft (7). Rail: True. • Rosehill Inside Mail: 'He's ready to run his best race this preparation' ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ BE WARY Rosehill's track rating continues to improve and is bordering on a soft 7 after being a heavy 10 earlier in the week. The rail is out 8m from the 1000m to the winning post and it is expected jockeys will try to steer away from the inside. Flemington's rail is in the true position and the track rated a soft 6 with the chance of an upgrade. The track should race fairly. Sunshine Coast's soft 6 rating is likely to improve further but it is expected the better going will be away from the inside in the straight. • Tips from the big bookies for Saturday, July 5 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ROSEHILL GARDENS TIPS BEST BET: Race 3 No.6 EXIT FEE was heavily backed into favouritism first-up in a Randwick Highway and he ran well without threatening for a half length second to the speedy Calico Miss. He had never previously won at the start of a campaign so his Randwick effort suggests he's in for a good winter preparation. Exit Fee will strip fitter for that run and goes back to Rosehill where he won a Highway over 1300m when last in work. Drawn to get the run of the race, he's won second-up previously, handles soft tracks and is ready to win. THE NEXT BEST: Race 10 No.5 KERGUELEN did not miss a top two finish in his first six starts, winning three, before going sharply in grade when he ran fourth at favourite to Accredited at Randwick last start. The Godolphin sprinter looked to have every chance but still stuck to his task and was beaten just over a length. Kerguelen is back in his right grade and is drawn to get the run of the race. VALUE BET: Race 8 No.13 COSMONOVA has shaped promisingly in two runs from a spell including her closing third to stablemate Accredited at Randwick two weeks ago. The Joe Pride-trained Cosmonova returns to Rosehill where she has won over the 1200m course and although drawn a little wide, she should be able to slide across and settle in the front half of the field with cover. Cosmonova is at her peak after recent racing, she is unbeaten in two previous attempts third-up from a spell, and the soft track conditions are perfect for her. She's terrific value around $15. THE WHISPER: Race 1 No.1 RAGING FORCE has been brilliant in both starts this winter campaign, romping home in the Red Crown at Muswellbrook then dominating from the front at Kensington. Talented two-year-old who is being readied for the spring carnival. If he is to take on the best of his age group next season, he should be able to put this field away. There's plenty of market confidence in the Peter Snowden-trained gelding who has firmed from $2.60 into $1.90. • ROSEHILL BEST BETS: Clinton Payne's race-by-race tips, analysis for Rosehill Gardens on Saturday ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ FLEMINGTON TIPS BEST BET: Race 6 No.5 SHE'S AN ARTIST has been a runaway winner at her only two starts – scoring by five lengths on debut at Bendigo then careering away from her rivals over the Flemington 1100m course last start. She ran 1m 02.66s to win last start and broke 33s for her final 600m. Punters are rallying for She's An Artist with Ladbrokes reporting a string of big bets including $1000 at $1.80 twice, $2000 twice, $1000 4 times, $700 and $650 at $1.75, $1500 and $1300 three times at $1.70 and $1300 at $1.55. She's An Artist looks a real talent and will maintain her unbeaten record. NEXT BEST: Race 4 No.9 KNOBELAS ran on for a close second on debut at Pakenham over 1400m then went out to 1600m and has impressed with successive wins at Pakenham and Sandown. She has led all the way and by margins of more than three lengths both times. This is her best test but Knobelas looks a very progressive filly. The one to beat. VALUE BET: Race 9 No.6 TERRESTAR may not win often but the Team Hawkes-trained mare has returned in good form with game seconds at Eagle Farm and Flemington. Although she hasn't won for 15 months, she has now been placed in her last five starts in succession. Terrestar finds herself in a winnable race and she is good value at near double figure odds. THE WHISPER: Race 8 No.10 OH TOO GOOD returned to her best form with a runaway win at Flemington in the Vobis Gold, putting a margin of more than three lengths on her chasing rivals led by Jimmy The Bear. The form has been franked with Jimmy The Bear winning easily last start. Oh Too Good is at her peak after three runs from a spell, she excels over the Flemington 1600m course, and just needs a touch of luck early from her awkward gate. • FLEMINGTON BEST BETS: Gilbert Gardiner's tips, analysis and quaddie pics for Flemington on Saturday ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ TAB FIXED ODDS BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS ROSEHILL GARDENS Race 1: Raging Force $2.45-$2, Just Awesome $17-$11 Race 2: Zouripper $4.60-$3.10 Race 3: Exit Fee $3.60-$2.70, Powder Man $14-$9.50 Race 4: Lunaite $8-$5, Show 'Em Howl $26-$18 Race 5: Storm The Ramparts $3.30-$2.90, Deprivation $23-$11, Pokerjack $23-$13 Race 6: Let's Go Again $11-$7 Race 7: Sounds Unusual $11-$5.50 Race 8: Dollar Magic $11-$7, Cigar Flick $11-$8.50, Cosmonova $26-$15 Race 9: Thunderlips $6-$4.40, Whinchat $15-$4.80, Saltcoats $26-$16, Testator Silens $51-$23 Race 10: Kerguelen $3.50-$3.20, Sacred Rocks $6-$3.50, Brave One $4.40-$3.60 • LAURIE'S LONGSHOTS: Best value plays from form student Laurie Sainsbury ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ LADBROKES BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS ROSEHILL GARDENS Race 1: Raging Force $2.60-$1.90 with a multitude of smaller bets all the way in with biggest $600 a $2.40, $400 twice and $360 at $2.25, $600 at $2.15, $600 a $2.10, $1000, $680 and $500 twice at $2.05, Horseshoe Hill $11-$9.50 with a bet of $230 at $11 Race 2: Zouripper $4.20-$2.90 with a $625 bet at $4.20 Race 3: Exit Fee $3.30-$2.60 after bets of $1000 at $2.75 and $1000 at $2.60, Let's Go Brandon $21-$16 with bets of $210 at $21, $375 at $21, $375 at $20 Race 4: Diddle Dumpling $9-$8 with a bet of $300 at $9, Sister Dane $18-$12, Amusing $10-$9 with a $222 at $10 Race 5: Storm The Ramparts $3.80-$2.90, Tarpaulin $3.30-$3, Pokerjack $31-$15 Race 6: Hi Dubai $6-$3.40, Queen Of The Mile $13-$8.50 after bets of $200 at $13 and $150 at $11, Let's Go Again $13-$6.50 after bets of $165 at $13, $125 at $8.75, Savagery Vibe $5-$4 with a $1000 wager at $5 Race 7: Seafall $14-$8.50 after a $155 bet at $14, Sounds Unusual $11-$6 including a $200 wager at $11, Gentleschi $9.50-$6 with a bets of $235 at $9.50), Good Banter $10-$6.50 with bets of $222 and $200 at $10 Race 8: Elouyou $11-$8 after bets of $150 at $10, $150 at $9, $160 at $9.50, Cigar Flick $10-$9 with a $200 bet at $10.50, $200 and $100 at $10, $200 at $9.50), World Alliance $7.50-$6 with bets of $300 at $6.25, $400 at $6, Memoria $18-$16 after a $120 bet at $18, Dollar Magic $12-$7 with a $180 at $12 Race 9: Welwal $500 at $7.50, Accredited $6.50-$5.50 after bets of $800 at $6.50, Phearson $51-$41, Whinchat $11-$5 with a $200 bet at $11, Astero $25-$23 after a bet of $120 w/p at $25/$6.50, Green Fly $11-$7 with bets of $200 at $11, $220 at $10, $100 at $10 three times Race 10: Kerguelen $3.30-$3.70-$3.30 with a bet of $500 at $3.60, Brave One $5.50-$3.50 with a bet of $445 at $5.50), Sacred Rocks $7.50-$3.20 after bets of $310 at $7.50, $620 at $4.20 • Shayne O'Cass's race-by-race tips, analysis for Rosehill Gardens on Saturday FLEMINGTON Race 1: Bacash $2.70-$2.50 after bet of $1250 twice and $800 at $2.60, Job Done $900 twice and $600 at $3.20 Race 2: Bayou Music with bets of $250 twice at $8.50, Arcora $4.80-$4.60 after a bet of $400 at $4.85 Race 3: Marble Nine $3.50-$2.20 with a bet of $950 at $3.10, Thespian Waters $12-$11 with bets of $400 and $250 twice at $12, $670 at $11, Herecomesthestar with a bet of $125 at $17 Race 4: Knobelas $2.45-$2.10 after bets of $2500 at $2.40, $1480 at $2.35, Race 5: Virtuous Circle $7-$6 after bets of $200 at $7, $365 and $350 at $6.50, Goldenstatewarrior $6.50-$4.60 with bets of $1000/$2000 at $6.25/$2.10, $300 at $6, $200 at $5.50 Race 6: Madame Maserati $25-$20 with a bet of $200 at $2, She's An Artist $1.80-$1.60 with bets of $1000 at $1.80 twice, $2000 twice, $1000 4 times, $700 and $650 at $1.75, $1500 and $1300 three times at $1.70, $1300 at $1.55 plus numerous other bets for $70,000 invested Race 7: Nearco Frod $18-$13 with a bet of $117 at $18), Prochester $23-15, Vellasmachine $500 at $5.25, Champagne Jenni $17-$12 after bets of $150 and $125 at $17, $133 three times at $16, $285 at $15), Bearings $700 and $155 at $14 Race 8: Detonator Jack $500 w/p at $16.50/$4.40, Pounding $500 at $22.50, Oh Too Good $1500 and $930 at $3.15, $1000 at $3 eight times, Hughes $700 at $10, Magnaspin $61-$31 with a bet of $34 at $61 Race 9: Fire Of Etna $6.50-$5.50 with a bet of $365 at $6.50 • Racing Confidential: J-Mac unlikely to ride again this season SUNSHINE COAST Race 1: Mr Verse $6.50-$5.50 with a bet of $800 at $6.50, Oceans Of Energy $34-$27, Eye Pea Oh $20-$13 Race 2: Casperova $2.80-$1.85 after bets of $1115 at $2.80, $800 at $2.70, Big Boy George $7.50-$6 with a bet of $300 at $7.50 Race 3: Certified Copy $3.90-$2.90 with a bet of $344 at $3.90, Pretty Dubious $7.50-$6.50 after bets of $585 a $7.50, $400 at $7, Prestar $5.50-$4 after bets of $500 at $5.75, $555 at $4.60, Formula Rossa $12-$9.50 with a bet of $250 w/p at $12/$3.50 Race 4: Cosmic Fire $725 at $7, $500 at $6.50 twice, $500 w/p at $6/$2.30, Gin And Tonic $9.50-$6 after bets of $235 at $9.50, $285 at $8, Overful $6-$4.40, Lead Me On $11-$6.50 Race 5: All That Pizazz $12-$8.50 with a bet of $300 w/p at $12/$3.10, Millane $350 at $9.75, Hardware Lane $18-$16, Economics $20-$9, Chakra Boy $10-$5 Race 6: Italian Riviera $23-$13, Mille De Lune $6-$4.60 after bets of $230 at $5.50, $250 at $5.15, Bollinger Miss $16-$11 Race 7: Warnie $3.20-$2.80 after a bet of $700 at $3, I Am Artie $18-$12, Fortunate Kiss $2300 at $19, Mississippi Prince $41-$21, Redford with bets of $100 at $20, $250 at $17, $133 at $17 Race 8: Nikau Spur $21-$16 after bets of $200 at $21, $250 at $18), Don Diego De Vega $7.50-$6.50 with bets of $500 at $7.50, $1000 at $7, $300 at $6.75, Half Yours $4.40-$3.60 with a bet of $750 at $3.70, Dillan $23-$19 with bets of $500 w/p at $22.50/$5.50, $200 at $19.50, $110 at $19 Race 9: The Drover $18-$8.50, Toesonthenose $18-$17, Tonneofgrit $31-$6, Deep Respect $4.80-$3.60 • SUNSHINE COAST TIPS: Graeme Carey's best bets, race-by-race tips, analysis and quaddie picks ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ INTERSTATE MAIL Sunshine Coast Race 2 No.7 CASPERNOVA Sunshine Coast Race 7 No.4 WARNIE Gawler Race 3 No.4 MARK OF THE MAN Gawler Race 5 No.9 SWYCHO • GAWLER, PINJARRA TIPS: $34 chance will 'take running down' ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ PROVINCIAL MAIL Wyong Race 2 No.2 GAMP Wyong Race 6 No.9 SAPLING #Good luck today and I hope you back plenty of winners Originally published as The Last Say: Tips, inside mail, market movers and the latest track conditions for today's racing
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Novocastrian dreaming of shot at NRL glory he missed out on at Penrith
Zac Hosking is finding it hard not to dream of achieving what he missed out on at Penrith - playing in a grand final. The back-rower is part of a Canberra side who were top of the table prior to Canterbury's clash with Brisbane on Friday night. It's a familiar place on the ladder for Hosking from his time at Penrith, when the Panthers led the 2023 competition for much of the year, before claiming a minor-major premiership double. After making his NRL debut and playing four games with Brisbane the season prior, Hosking was a key part of Penrith's 2023 campaign, playing in all but four games of the regular season, and in a qualifying final. But he was dropped for Penrith's last two games - a preliminary final and the grand final. "Absolutely," Hosking said of whether he was dreaming of a run to this year's decider. "It really hurt that year. "I feel like this year I've got another crack at it, hopefully." The Raiders, who host the Dragons on Saturday night, led the NRL after 17 rounds - winning 13 of their first 16 games. With a favourable draw on the run home, they are a genuine chance of winning their first minor premiership since 1990. If they do finish first, or even in the top four, history says they will have a much better chance of claiming the title than if they ran fifth to eighth. No team has won the competition from outside the top four in the NRL era, nor since 1995. "It's been a great season so far," Hosking said, speaking to the Newcastle Herald after Canberra's 22-18 win over the Knights. "We're a different side to what we were last year. "Those sorts of games, we probably end up losing those ones [last year], but we keep finding a way to win. "Sticky [Canberra coach Ricky Stuart] instilled a lot of stuff into us in the pre-season over summer, and that's really carried into the season so far. Everyone who has come in has done a really good job. "Everyone is just pulling their weight at the moment, we're not relying on one person, and I think that is the difference." A Central Newcastle junior, Hosking was a two-time NSW Cup player of the year at the Knights before departing in late 2021 for a train-and-trial opportunity with Brisbane. He joined the Raiders after only one year at Penrith, who reluctantly let him go, and has had a mixed couple of campaigns in the nation's capital. Last season, he started the year so well he was considered one of, if not the, form players in the NRL. But a shoulder injury ruled him out for most of the year, Hosking returning late in the campaign to make eight appearances overall. This year, the 28-year-old has played in 12 of Canberra's 13 games, finding his feet again after a string of injuries. "I had never really missed two or three weeks of footy ... before I got to Canberra, and then it was just one thing after the next. I was really unlucky," he said. "After the shoulder, it was the calf just before [round one in] Vegas, and then I broke my hand in round two ... After that third one, I got told they come in threes, so no more after that. But since then, I've been really healthy and loving playing week-to-week." Hosking may have only made 45 NRL appearances, but he is in Canberra's leadership group and relishes being a senior player. "I took a while to get to the NRL, but once I got there I haven't really left," he said. "What I lack in NRL experience, I make up for in life experience in other ways. I feel like I've moved into that leadership space, and I love that sort of role. It will be one I'll have to keep working on next year when we lose guys like Jamal [Fogarty]." Hosking could be forgiven for pondering his Penrith departure after they went on to win a fourth consecutive premiership last season, but he now finds himself in a side that looks a genuine title contender. When he signed with Canberra, whilst they were a solid team - finishing eighth in 2023 - they looked well away from where they are now. Some pundits even tipped them for the wooden-spoon this season. "I didn't know what to expect, but I knew the opportunity was really good, and the group was really good," Hosking said. "If we got it right, we could do something like this. "We've had those conversations that we're brave enough to think we can go all the way, but as cliche as it sounds, we really are taking it one game at a time. "We've set ourselves up for a good end of season, it's just about winning the games that people expect us to win." Zac Hosking is finding it hard not to dream of achieving what he missed out on at Penrith - playing in a grand final. The back-rower is part of a Canberra side who were top of the table prior to Canterbury's clash with Brisbane on Friday night. It's a familiar place on the ladder for Hosking from his time at Penrith, when the Panthers led the 2023 competition for much of the year, before claiming a minor-major premiership double. After making his NRL debut and playing four games with Brisbane the season prior, Hosking was a key part of Penrith's 2023 campaign, playing in all but four games of the regular season, and in a qualifying final. But he was dropped for Penrith's last two games - a preliminary final and the grand final. "Absolutely," Hosking said of whether he was dreaming of a run to this year's decider. "It really hurt that year. "I feel like this year I've got another crack at it, hopefully." The Raiders, who host the Dragons on Saturday night, led the NRL after 17 rounds - winning 13 of their first 16 games. With a favourable draw on the run home, they are a genuine chance of winning their first minor premiership since 1990. If they do finish first, or even in the top four, history says they will have a much better chance of claiming the title than if they ran fifth to eighth. No team has won the competition from outside the top four in the NRL era, nor since 1995. "It's been a great season so far," Hosking said, speaking to the Newcastle Herald after Canberra's 22-18 win over the Knights. "We're a different side to what we were last year. "Those sorts of games, we probably end up losing those ones [last year], but we keep finding a way to win. "Sticky [Canberra coach Ricky Stuart] instilled a lot of stuff into us in the pre-season over summer, and that's really carried into the season so far. Everyone who has come in has done a really good job. "Everyone is just pulling their weight at the moment, we're not relying on one person, and I think that is the difference." A Central Newcastle junior, Hosking was a two-time NSW Cup player of the year at the Knights before departing in late 2021 for a train-and-trial opportunity with Brisbane. He joined the Raiders after only one year at Penrith, who reluctantly let him go, and has had a mixed couple of campaigns in the nation's capital. Last season, he started the year so well he was considered one of, if not the, form players in the NRL. But a shoulder injury ruled him out for most of the year, Hosking returning late in the campaign to make eight appearances overall. This year, the 28-year-old has played in 12 of Canberra's 13 games, finding his feet again after a string of injuries. "I had never really missed two or three weeks of footy ... before I got to Canberra, and then it was just one thing after the next. I was really unlucky," he said. "After the shoulder, it was the calf just before [round one in] Vegas, and then I broke my hand in round two ... After that third one, I got told they come in threes, so no more after that. But since then, I've been really healthy and loving playing week-to-week." Hosking may have only made 45 NRL appearances, but he is in Canberra's leadership group and relishes being a senior player. "I took a while to get to the NRL, but once I got there I haven't really left," he said. "What I lack in NRL experience, I make up for in life experience in other ways. I feel like I've moved into that leadership space, and I love that sort of role. It will be one I'll have to keep working on next year when we lose guys like Jamal [Fogarty]." Hosking could be forgiven for pondering his Penrith departure after they went on to win a fourth consecutive premiership last season, but he now finds himself in a side that looks a genuine title contender. When he signed with Canberra, whilst they were a solid team - finishing eighth in 2023 - they looked well away from where they are now. Some pundits even tipped them for the wooden-spoon this season. "I didn't know what to expect, but I knew the opportunity was really good, and the group was really good," Hosking said. "If we got it right, we could do something like this. "We've had those conversations that we're brave enough to think we can go all the way, but as cliche as it sounds, we really are taking it one game at a time. "We've set ourselves up for a good end of season, it's just about winning the games that people expect us to win." Zac Hosking is finding it hard not to dream of achieving what he missed out on at Penrith - playing in a grand final. The back-rower is part of a Canberra side who were top of the table prior to Canterbury's clash with Brisbane on Friday night. It's a familiar place on the ladder for Hosking from his time at Penrith, when the Panthers led the 2023 competition for much of the year, before claiming a minor-major premiership double. After making his NRL debut and playing four games with Brisbane the season prior, Hosking was a key part of Penrith's 2023 campaign, playing in all but four games of the regular season, and in a qualifying final. But he was dropped for Penrith's last two games - a preliminary final and the grand final. "Absolutely," Hosking said of whether he was dreaming of a run to this year's decider. "It really hurt that year. "I feel like this year I've got another crack at it, hopefully." The Raiders, who host the Dragons on Saturday night, led the NRL after 17 rounds - winning 13 of their first 16 games. With a favourable draw on the run home, they are a genuine chance of winning their first minor premiership since 1990. If they do finish first, or even in the top four, history says they will have a much better chance of claiming the title than if they ran fifth to eighth. No team has won the competition from outside the top four in the NRL era, nor since 1995. "It's been a great season so far," Hosking said, speaking to the Newcastle Herald after Canberra's 22-18 win over the Knights. "We're a different side to what we were last year. "Those sorts of games, we probably end up losing those ones [last year], but we keep finding a way to win. "Sticky [Canberra coach Ricky Stuart] instilled a lot of stuff into us in the pre-season over summer, and that's really carried into the season so far. Everyone who has come in has done a really good job. "Everyone is just pulling their weight at the moment, we're not relying on one person, and I think that is the difference." A Central Newcastle junior, Hosking was a two-time NSW Cup player of the year at the Knights before departing in late 2021 for a train-and-trial opportunity with Brisbane. He joined the Raiders after only one year at Penrith, who reluctantly let him go, and has had a mixed couple of campaigns in the nation's capital. Last season, he started the year so well he was considered one of, if not the, form players in the NRL. But a shoulder injury ruled him out for most of the year, Hosking returning late in the campaign to make eight appearances overall. This year, the 28-year-old has played in 12 of Canberra's 13 games, finding his feet again after a string of injuries. "I had never really missed two or three weeks of footy ... before I got to Canberra, and then it was just one thing after the next. I was really unlucky," he said. "After the shoulder, it was the calf just before [round one in] Vegas, and then I broke my hand in round two ... After that third one, I got told they come in threes, so no more after that. But since then, I've been really healthy and loving playing week-to-week." Hosking may have only made 45 NRL appearances, but he is in Canberra's leadership group and relishes being a senior player. "I took a while to get to the NRL, but once I got there I haven't really left," he said. "What I lack in NRL experience, I make up for in life experience in other ways. I feel like I've moved into that leadership space, and I love that sort of role. It will be one I'll have to keep working on next year when we lose guys like Jamal [Fogarty]." Hosking could be forgiven for pondering his Penrith departure after they went on to win a fourth consecutive premiership last season, but he now finds himself in a side that looks a genuine title contender. When he signed with Canberra, whilst they were a solid team - finishing eighth in 2023 - they looked well away from where they are now. Some pundits even tipped them for the wooden-spoon this season. "I didn't know what to expect, but I knew the opportunity was really good, and the group was really good," Hosking said. "If we got it right, we could do something like this. "We've had those conversations that we're brave enough to think we can go all the way, but as cliche as it sounds, we really are taking it one game at a time. "We've set ourselves up for a good end of season, it's just about winning the games that people expect us to win." Zac Hosking is finding it hard not to dream of achieving what he missed out on at Penrith - playing in a grand final. The back-rower is part of a Canberra side who were top of the table prior to Canterbury's clash with Brisbane on Friday night. It's a familiar place on the ladder for Hosking from his time at Penrith, when the Panthers led the 2023 competition for much of the year, before claiming a minor-major premiership double. After making his NRL debut and playing four games with Brisbane the season prior, Hosking was a key part of Penrith's 2023 campaign, playing in all but four games of the regular season, and in a qualifying final. But he was dropped for Penrith's last two games - a preliminary final and the grand final. "Absolutely," Hosking said of whether he was dreaming of a run to this year's decider. "It really hurt that year. "I feel like this year I've got another crack at it, hopefully." The Raiders, who host the Dragons on Saturday night, led the NRL after 17 rounds - winning 13 of their first 16 games. With a favourable draw on the run home, they are a genuine chance of winning their first minor premiership since 1990. If they do finish first, or even in the top four, history says they will have a much better chance of claiming the title than if they ran fifth to eighth. No team has won the competition from outside the top four in the NRL era, nor since 1995. "It's been a great season so far," Hosking said, speaking to the Newcastle Herald after Canberra's 22-18 win over the Knights. "We're a different side to what we were last year. "Those sorts of games, we probably end up losing those ones [last year], but we keep finding a way to win. "Sticky [Canberra coach Ricky Stuart] instilled a lot of stuff into us in the pre-season over summer, and that's really carried into the season so far. Everyone who has come in has done a really good job. "Everyone is just pulling their weight at the moment, we're not relying on one person, and I think that is the difference." A Central Newcastle junior, Hosking was a two-time NSW Cup player of the year at the Knights before departing in late 2021 for a train-and-trial opportunity with Brisbane. He joined the Raiders after only one year at Penrith, who reluctantly let him go, and has had a mixed couple of campaigns in the nation's capital. Last season, he started the year so well he was considered one of, if not the, form players in the NRL. But a shoulder injury ruled him out for most of the year, Hosking returning late in the campaign to make eight appearances overall. This year, the 28-year-old has played in 12 of Canberra's 13 games, finding his feet again after a string of injuries. "I had never really missed two or three weeks of footy ... before I got to Canberra, and then it was just one thing after the next. I was really unlucky," he said. "After the shoulder, it was the calf just before [round one in] Vegas, and then I broke my hand in round two ... After that third one, I got told they come in threes, so no more after that. But since then, I've been really healthy and loving playing week-to-week." Hosking may have only made 45 NRL appearances, but he is in Canberra's leadership group and relishes being a senior player. "I took a while to get to the NRL, but once I got there I haven't really left," he said. "What I lack in NRL experience, I make up for in life experience in other ways. I feel like I've moved into that leadership space, and I love that sort of role. It will be one I'll have to keep working on next year when we lose guys like Jamal [Fogarty]." Hosking could be forgiven for pondering his Penrith departure after they went on to win a fourth consecutive premiership last season, but he now finds himself in a side that looks a genuine title contender. When he signed with Canberra, whilst they were a solid team - finishing eighth in 2023 - they looked well away from where they are now. Some pundits even tipped them for the wooden-spoon this season. "I didn't know what to expect, but I knew the opportunity was really good, and the group was really good," Hosking said. "If we got it right, we could do something like this. "We've had those conversations that we're brave enough to think we can go all the way, but as cliche as it sounds, we really are taking it one game at a time. "We've set ourselves up for a good end of season, it's just about winning the games that people expect us to win."
