BY DAN

Zac Hosking is not filling the Raiders ever- problematic right edge spot, at least not this season.

As Coach Stuart fed to the front man of our human centipede of information, the Mole, it’s not expected that Hosking will be solving any problems for Canberra in 2024.

He was just having a look around but there is no suggestion he will be here in 2024. We are talking to him about 2025 and showed him around – nothing more.

Stuart to the Mole

This obviously could all be birthed in context of the Panthers losing Jarome Luai, and murmurs existing about interest in Luke Garner (Hosking’s competitor for an edge spot at the Panthers). The Penrith organisation is having its golden bones picked apart, and is putting its foot down about people leaving early. If Hosking goes why can’t Luai? If Garner is leaving (a possibility but not likely) then their desire to keep Hosking increases. While Garner’s departure remains a potential pathway it’s unlikely that Hosking will be let free.

It also might be a negotiating tactic on the part of the Milk. I’m still wracking my brain for the angle, but Stuart might be playing it cool with Hosking in order as leverage in negotiations. More power too him, but Canberra have a pretty obvious demand that is not currently being met by supply (and goddamn just look around and you see how that leads to inflation). It seems overly coy to pretend the Raiders are in a fine spot with edge forwards given *points to general desolation in depth chart*.

The obvious thing worth noting is that it doesn’t mean Hosking isn’t joining the Raiders at all. Stuart was at pains to say the club was talking 2025, which while not ideal is still better than the alternative. As we’ve noted the club is definitely going to have a gap there to start 2025 (and they hardly have options now), regardless of whether Corey Harawira-Naera’s health ever gets to the great side of good. If they can’t get him in 2024 they’ll still have a need in 2025. The good thing about Hosking is that even if they sign him for 2025, its unlikely that he’ll cost so much they can’t stay in the market for 2024. There’s plenty of options. They just need to convince someone to come.

It’s a shame because Hosking, while not elite, would have provided exactly what the Raiders need on the right edge: solid two-gap defence, hard-running lines, and generally high work rate. As we’ve noted his defensive record was exemplary in 2023 (91 per cent tackle efficiency, elite for a backrower), admittedly as part of a very good system. His ability to work well off halfbacks engaging the line is something the Raiders were made painfully aware of in their encounters with the ‘Riff last season. To borrow the parlance of the kids, this is a man that could do a job.

Alas Canberra must struggle forward with what they have. I’m intrigued as to who gets manufactured into a backrower because right now they have two and little else with anything approaching first grade experience. Horse can do it. Maybe Morgan Smithies can. Maybe Simi Sisagi is able to. Both Smithies and Sasagi would be acutely aware there’s potentially big minutes available if they can prove themselves worthy.

In the meantime Elliott Whitehead will have to roll his old bones out again and break them a few more times for the Milk and for me and you.

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