Hudson Young, a standout for the Raiders and Blues, has reportedly received permission from Canberra to visit Papua New Guinea next month to speak with the Chiefs.
This comes as a significant setback for the Raiders; Young will travel to Port Moresby in September and could negotiate a contract starting from 2028 as reported by CODE Sports.
He has already declined a record contract extension worth $3.3 million from the Raiders, making it less likely they can retain the talented back rower.
Recently, Brian To'o was also allowed by the Panthers to negotiate, ultimately signing a three-year contract with the new NRL franchise, the Chiefs.
As the Chiefs aim to build a powerhouse team for their first season, acquiring Young would mark their first major star signing.
Additionally, it appears that Canberra may be bracing for Young's departure, focusing instead on securing promising English forward Matty Nicholson.
According to CODE Sports, discussions between Nicholson and the Raiders have reportedly gained momentum over the past week.