It was December last year and Zac Santo kept hoping the phone would ring.

Every NRL team had already returned to pre-season training, but the winger was without a club after being released by the North Queensland Cowboys after five seasons, including three as a star of the under-20s competition.

Canberra Raiders recruit Zac Santo will debut for the club at the Auckland Nines this weekend. Credit:Jay Cronan

Then, the Canberra Raiders came calling.

"It was a late deal, I didn't really have anywhere to go after the season ended at the Cowboys, so I was sitting around waiting for my manager to get back to me," Santo said.