The Canberra Raiders have begun a three-month race against the clock to secure the signature of second-rower Hudson Young before he can head to the open market.
The star second-rower has already been offered a three-year extension worth close to a reported $1 million per year by the Raiders, and as little as a week ago, everything looked in hand for the club who were set to re-sign their star through to the end of 2030.
Young is now regarded as one of the best second-rowers in the game, having played Origin again this year. He would have been a walk-up starter for the Kangaroos at the Rugby League World Cup too, had he not copped a season-ending Achilles injury.
The Raiders are desperate to get Young locked up before November 1, because they know exactly what is coming if they don't.
It has now emerged per News Corp that the PNG Chiefs have identified Young as a likely target if he is still without a contract come November 1.
The Chiefs have tax-free incentives, and could pay more than what the Raiders will offer to Young if they view him as a Priority A recruit, which it's believed they do.
The Chiefs, to this point, have been very strong in signing backline stars, with Brian To'o added to Jarome Luai, Zac Lomax and Alex Johnston this week, but their only forwards are English prop Matt Lees and current Sydney Roosters hooker and lock Connor Watson.
That leaves the club needing to target the forwards next, and it will become the priority for Michael Chammas and his staff from November 1.
It's understood Young will be among them, with the club also likely to target a number of middle third options, potentially led by Cooper Bai who it was uncovered has a contract through to the end of 2027 with the Titans and only an option for 2028, as well as the likes of Victor Radley, Isaah Yeo, J'maine Hopgood, Moses Leota and Xavier Willison who lead the candidacy field for players uncontracted beyond the end of 2027.
The Raiders, for their part, are understood to have already arranged a meeting with Young's manager Sam Ayoub for sometime in the next fortnight, but that is now a guarantee to get a deal over the line given the potential money on offer from the Chiefs.
It's reported that the Raiders have not been asked about early permission to negotiate for Young at this stage, but the second-rower is aware of the interest.
Zero Tackle's understanding is that Young's preference is to remain in Canberra if the offer meets his valuation, but the closer the timeline stretches to November 1, the trickier things will get for Canberra.
The Raiders are balancing out their salary cap, but there won't be a number too high to secure Young.
As it stands, the Green Machine still have plenty of moving parts, with Michael Asomua, Jack Clydsdale, Ata Mariota, Josh Papalii (who is likely to leave), Vana Patuki-Case and Jed Stuart all off-contract at the end of this year, while Jayden Brailey, Corey Horsburgh, Sebastian Kris, Myles Martin, Matty Nicholson, Ethan Sanders, Xavier Savage and Tom Starling sit off-contract at the end of 2027.
It's understood the club are about to announce extensions for Mariota and Jed Stuart, while the 2027 list is now likely to see Corey Horsburgh and Sebastian Kris leave, withthe club already working through an extension for Ethan Sanders.
