"You never go to the start line and think I'm here to lose today, so in that respect maybe I'm a little bit disappointed, but Braden was second in the world champs last year on Maui. He's a class act, so at least I know I was mixing it up with the best in the world and that gives me a lot of confidence going into the year."
He said the home town support was amazing.
"We came past where all the shuttle guys are waiting to go up the hill and the noise that those guys made as we went past was just unreal. And also at the top, they were waiting for us to come through - you just don't get that when you're racing anywhere else."
Osborne had praise for the new layout of the course.
"I think this course is a winner. Braden and I both think this would be the perfect World Champs course. It's good, consistent riding and it's technical enough that when you ride fast it is actually hard, but not ridiculous either."
Wanaka's Currie was neck and neck with Osborne out of the swim and into the mountain bike, but managed to pull away towards the end of the bike leg.
"Yeah, me and Sam swim pretty similar and we ride pretty similar on the flat stuff and I just managed to get away on the big hill. It was great to go into transition with a little bit of a lead cause I knew we would have been real close in the run too."
Whakatane teenager Hayden Wilde produced a remarkable result in the long course race, finishing in fourth place.
"I had one of the best swims I've ever had, and I came out with the likes of Olly Shaw and then from there I started a good bike, but about 5km into it I got a puncture. I had to stop and put CO2 in it and I lost about 2 minutes.
"Once I got going again I managed to pass guys who had passed me and then I passed a few others and then gunned it on the run.
"I was stoked with the result but gutted to have got the puncture, but I guess it's good to know where I am at. I'm going to the Asia-Pacific Champs next weekend and it will be my first elite race so I'm looking forward to it."
In the women's pro race, Lizzie Orchard improved on her second place finish last year to take out the 2016 title. The 30-year-old defeated Sarah Backler who finished second and Rachel Challis third.
Orchard made her charge in the run, after coming into transition off the mountain bike in third place.
Rio Olympics hopeful and national mountain bike champion Sam Gaze took out the 26km mountain bike race in 1:07:50. He's in good stead heading into next week's World Cup event in Cairns.
Event spokesman Tony Sangster says they got great feedback on the new bike layout.
"The athletes loved the new bike course and we have seen some great performances. The people have enjoyed themselves. Having an event where you have the opportunity to go to two World Championships is fantastic as well. A lot of athletes are trying to get to Maui [XTERRA World Championships] and Lake Crackenback in Australia [ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships]. This Rotorua event is great and it caters for all ages and abilities."
