Hudson Young, a standout player for the Canberra Raiders, is in line for the most lucrative contract in the franchise's history as the team faces challenges in keeping their State of Origin representative second-rower.
Over the past year and a half, Young has established himself as one of the premier forwards in the league, but with his deal running out at the end of 2027, he has caught the attention of the PNG Chiefs.
The Chiefs have already made six notable signings, including Jarome Luai, Alex Johnston, Zac Lomax, and Brian To'o, along with English prop Matty Lees and utility Connor Watson, but their focus now is on securing a halfback and more forwards.
Due to their tax-free advantages, the Chiefs can provide players with higher salaries without breaching the salary cap, but they remain subject to the same salary cap restrictions as all teams.
This limits the number of players they can approach with substantial offers, especially with Luai already under contract, making Young a significant target.
Reports from News Corp earlier indicated that the Raiders offered Young a $1 million annual salary, but that has now grown to $1.1 million per year for the next three seasons, with additional clauses likely tied to salary cap increases from the new TV agreement.
As expansion drives up player values, the Raiders must present their largest offer ever to secure Young.
However, that may not suffice, and earlier this week, rumors surfaced that the Raiders might allow Young a seven-day negotiation period with PNG before the season concludes.
This strategy mirrors the recent move by the Penrith Panthers with Brian To'o, who confirmed a transfer to the Chiefs for 2028 after scoring a hat-trick against the Melbourne Storm on Thursday night.