Raiders withdraw A$4.4 million contract offer to Hudson Young
The PNG Chiefs remain a potential destination for the NSW forward, but his salary cap valuation is still an issue.
Canberra have ended their latest attempt to retain Hudson Young, withdrawing a four-year contract proposal worth A$4.4 million after negotiations that began in June.
The Raiders said the offer was the biggest they had made and was designed to keep Young in Canberra for his remaining playing career. The club said it needed a response before October ended to allow it to plan ahead.
Young will leave Canberra after 2027. The PNG Chiefs, preparing to join the NRL in 2028, initially offered him A$900,000 a season, although the amount needed to sign him remains unresolved.
The NRL first assessed Young’s market value at A$1.1 million following the Chiefs’ approach. Its salary cap auditor subsequently lowered that figure to A$1 million, which remained above what the Chiefs were prepared to pay. The proposed PNG package would be tax-free.
ARLC chairman Peter V’landys said players could dispute their official valuations by putting their own case to the salary cap auditor. He said exceptional personal circumstances could be considered, but PNG’s tax-free status required extra care to prevent salary cap manipulation.
Young, 28, is recovering from a ruptured Achilles. Since his 2019 NRL debut for Canberra, he has made 155 appearances for the club. His representative record includes six Tests for Australia and nine State of Origin games for NSW.
