Canberra Raiders second-rower Zac Hosking has admitted that he still thinks about missing out on the 2023 grand final while at the Penrith Panthers.
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary went with Luke Garner for the preliminary final and grand final which saw the champion Penrith team win their third of four straight titles.
Hosking had played almost every game leading up to the grand final qualifier.
“It’s something I think about every day to be honest,” Hosking said.
“Missing that game really stung me in 2023.”
The 28-year-old goes toe-to-toe with Garner and his former teammates in Mudgee in a blockbuster Friday night of footy.
“I can see that opportunity coming again and it’s something I’m going to jump towards,” he added.
“To get a bit of success… it might be something that can overshadow the disappointment of missing out.”
Panthers versus Raiders in Mudgee will be followed by Melbourne versus the Bulldogs.
