NRL pre-season challenge teams: Zac Hosking to start in club challenge for Panthers
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Paul Crawley,
Brent Read and
Rob Sutherland
Ivan Cleary has thrown former Bronco Zac Hosking the opportunity of a lifetime, with the Penrith recruit named in the starting team to take on St Helens in Saturday’s World Club Challenge.
Hosking, 25, will back up his club debut in last weekend’s trial against Parramatta with a back row spot against the UK Super League champs.
With Liam Martin sidelined with a shoulder injury, the club is also on the lookout for someone to step up and nail down the spot previously owned by Viliame Kikau.
Zac Hosking is pushing hard for a starting spot at the Panthers. Picture: NRL Images
Hosking is up against former Tiger Luke Garner to be that player.
Garner is considered the favourite but the mail is Hosking has really impressed during pre-season.
The Panthers are out to claim their first WCC, having lost both previous attempts against Wigan and Bradford in 1991 and 2004 respectively, while they didn’t play St Helens last season because of COVID.
Hosking is the son of former Manly crowd favourite David “Mule” Hosking.
He made his NRL debut last season and to date has only played four top grade games