Fed up Raiders pull $4.4 million deal for Origin star
The Canberra Raiders have sensationally pulled their contract offer for NSW State of Origin star Hudson Young after growing fed up with stalling negotiations.
The Raiders confirmed in a statement on Monday afternoon that their contract offer for Young – a reported four-year, $4.4 million deal – was no longer on the table because they wanted an answer by the end of October and hadn’t received one.
Hudson Young in action for Canberra. Getty Images
The Raiders need to know how much money they will have available for negotiations with off-contract players from November 1.
The latest development means Young is set to leave Canberra when his contract expires at the end of 2027.
“The offer that was made was the largest in club history. As a club, we believe we have done all we can to keep Hudson in Canberra,” the statement said.
“However, negotiations have been ongoing since June, and the club needed an answer before the end of October so they could plan for the future.
“Hudson remains contracted to the Raiders for the 2027 season, and we look forward to seeing him return for pre-season training.”
Penrith’s Liam Martin and Cronulla’s Briton Nikora are among the back-rowers potentially about to become free agents on November 1.
Young, 28, has played 155 NRL games with Canberra since making his first-grade debut in 2019.
The gun back-rower has also played six Tests for Australia and made nine Origin appearances for NSW.
He was ruled unavailable for the World Cup after suffering an Achilles rupture in July.
