Zac Hosking took just one game with his new club Penrith to equal his dad’s tryscoring record – this weekend he is determined to beat him.
David ‘The Mule’ Hosking was something of a cult hero for Manly and Souths in the 1980s and ’90s.
But scoring tries wasn’t one of the Mule’s strengths – he managed just one in 78 top grade games.
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So both father and son had a good laugh when Zac crossed the line in his Panthers debut last weekend to draw level with the old man.
“I was going to give him some cheek but he beat me to it,” Zac told Wide World of Sports.
“When I got off the field there was already a text geeing me up about matching him.
“Now I’d love to cross the line again to really rub it in.”
Hosking’s fine debut was one of the few highlights in the Panthers’ 17-16 loss to the Eels.
The lanky forward, signed from Brisbane over the off season, ran the ball strongly and was rewarded with that try.
“We were a bit off our game and Parra were pretty hot – I would have loved to win my first game but not to be,” Hosking said.
“It was a real fast, intense game. People warned me the western derby would be hard and it’s probably the toughest game I’ve played in my life.
“There is so much talent in this team, I’m confident we can bounce back and I’m just grateful I was able to keep my spot – these guys are a pleasure to play with.”
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