Canberra Raiders withdraw $4.4 million contract offer to Hudson Young

The Canberra Raiders have officially withdrawn a four-year, $4.4 million contract extension offer to representative forward Hudson Young. The proposed deal, which would have been the largest in the club's history at approximately $1.1 million per season, was intended to secure Young as a one-club player and future leader.

The club stated that negotiations had been ongoing since June and that a decision was required before the end of October to facilitate future planning. Young, who is currently recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon, remains contracted to the Raiders through the 2027 season but will enter free agency on November 1.

Following the withdrawal, the PNG Chiefs are considered frontrunners to sign the 28-year-old for their 2028 NRL entry. While the NRL initially valued Young's market rate at $1.1 million, the Chiefs had reportedly offered $900,000 per season. Young has played 155 matches for Canberra since his 2019 debut and has represented both Australia and New South Wales.