Raiders table mega offer for Hudson Young as rivals circle

The Canberra Raiders have reportedly moved swiftly to secure the long-term future of Hudson Young, tabling a lucrative new contract despite the NSW Origin star suffering a season-ending Achilles injury.

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Young’s outstanding form throughout 2026 had already positioned him among the game’s elite edge forwards before his recent cruel injury blow, and Canberra is now determined to ensure he remains a cornerstone of the club’s future.

The proposed extension is reportedly for three seasons and would keep the representative back-rower in the nation’s capital until the end of the 2030 campaign according to reports at SMH.

If completed, the deal is reported to be worth around $3 million across its duration, reflecting both Young’s importance to the Raiders and the anticipated rise in the NRL salary cap over the coming years.

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The timing of Canberra’s offer is significant, with Young eligible to attract interest from rival clubs from November 1 if a new agreement is not finalised.

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Getty Images

Getty Images

With Young’s standing in the game and expansion teams like PNG and Perth circling any representative calibre players with strong salary cap room, they would no doubt be keen to make an offer, along with multiple other clubs.

Rather than allowing one of its biggest stars to test the open market, the Raiders have instead made it clear they view the 28-year-old as a key figure in their long-term premiership plans but Young will still need to decide if he wants to hear what rivals have to say or commit to the Raiders early.

Young had enjoyed arguably the finest season of his career before the injury, cementing himself as one of New South Wales’ most influential forwards and emerging as a leading contender for Kangaroos selection before being ruled out of the end-of-year World Cup.

While his immediate focus will be on recovering from surgery and returning to full fitness, Canberra’s reported contract offer provides a major vote of confidence that the Raiders expect him to remain one of the competition’s premier back-rowers for years to come.

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