As the NRL approaches its offseason, Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart maintains optimism about retaining Hudson Young amidst contract discussions that have captured attention.
Young, currently sidelined since Round 20 due to an Achilles injury, is under contract with the Raiders until the conclusion of the 2027 season.
However, if a new agreement isn't finalized before November 1, he will be able to engage with other clubs in the market.
The Raiders have reportedly offered Young the most lucrative contract in their history, a three-year deal valued at $3.3 million.
Young opted to defer this proposal, seeking permission from the Raiders to negotiate with the forthcoming PNG Chiefs while visiting Port Moresby.
The Chiefs proposed a three-year contract worth approximately $900,000 annually, including potential tax-free incentives.
Despite this, the offer was considered underwhelming compared to Young's market value and would not be validated by the NRL's salary cap auditor.
Following this development, the Chiefs withdrew their interest, alleviating concerns regarding their salary cap from a potential signing.
In light of these events, Stuart expressed confidence: "I'm happy that we're in a very strong position to keep him," he remarked to The Canberra Times.
He further noted, "As he said to me, he doesn't want to play for any other NRL club, but he wanted to weigh up the option to visit PNG because there's a lot of money on offer."