Zac Hosking can see why people might think he's an unlucky man.
After toiling away in Newcastle's lower grades, the second-rower relocated to Brisbane and was rewarded for his patience with a long-awaited NRL debut at the mature age of 25 in 2022.
At Penrith the next season, he played 20 of a possible 24 regular-season games, only to find himself ousted from the 17 by Luke Garner on grand final day.
Hosking watched from the sidelines as the Panthers came from 16 points down against Brisbane for one of the most memorable grand final victories of all time.
When he arrived at Canberra last year, Hosking was hampered by a shoulder injury that eventually required surgery.
Then, the 28-year-old tore his calf just as he was nearing a comeback.
After recovering from that latest blow, Hosking was named in the second row for this weekend's season opener against the Warriors in Las Vegas - a city where your fortunes can change rapidly.
The good-natured Raider hopes Lady Luck finally smiles down upon him at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday (AEDT).
"I don't like to look at it that way (that I'm unlucky), even though sometimes at the time, that's how you're feeling," he said at the Raiders' signing session with fans in Las Vegas.
"I try to stay out of a negative sort of head space. It's hard to be negative when you look around here at the moment.
"(The atmosphere in Vegas) feels like we're heading towards a grand final.
"I'm ready to move on. I've got all my injuries behind me."
Hosking said he'd come into the 2025 season stronger for his setbacks.
"Those things are things that build character, it makes you resilient and it makes you prepared for if it happens again," he said.
The Raiders are still confirming who will blow a custom-made replica of their famous Viking horn before kick-off against the Warriors after UFC boss Dana White declined the club's invitation.
Club legend Jarrod Croker is an option, with the former captain in town as a Raiders ambassador.
If Hosking could have anyone blow the Viking horn from any point in history, he'd pick the frontman of one of his favourite bands.
"I'd have Michael Hutchence from INXS," Hosking said, referring to the singer who died in 1997.
"Hopefully they get someone good for the job."
