Canberra Raiders star Hudson Young has officially been given permission to explore his options with the incoming Papua New Guinea Chiefs, with the forward set to tour the franchise's facilities next month.
Young will be granted a one-week window to speak with the Chiefs and tour their facilities in Port Moresby as he weighs up what the NRL's newest club could offer.
The Daily Telegraph has reported that the Raiders have officially given Young permission to make the trip, opening the door for the star forward to get a closer look at the Chiefs despite Canberra's recent efforts to secure his long-term future.
The development comes after the Raiders significantly increased their initial contract extension offer for Young, with the club now understood to have tabled a three-year deal worth $3.3 million.
The proposed contract would see Young earn around $1.1 million per season and make him the highest-paid player in Raiders history should he agree to remain in the nation's capital.
However, Young's upcoming visit to Papua New Guinea provides an intriguing new layer to his future, with the Chiefs now able to sell him on their vision for the expansion franchise.
No negotiations have taken place between Young and the Chiefs at this stage due to the NRL's anti-tampering rules, with Canberra having been required to provide permission for the discussions to take place before November 1.
The one-week window will now allow Young to assess the Chiefs' proposal and tour their facilities, while the Raiders can ensure he does not have the opportunity to negotiate with any other NRL clubs before November 1.
The situation is reminiscent of Connor Watson's heavily publicised tour of Papua New Guinea before he ultimately agreed to join the new franchise.
No other club will be permitted to negotiate with Young during the window.
Should Young fail to reach an agreement with the Chiefs or finalise his lucrative extension with Canberra, he will not be permitted to negotiate with rival clubs until after November 1.
The Raiders have made it clear they want to retain their star forward, but the decision to allow him to tour the Chiefs' facilities now gives the PNG franchise an opportunity to make its case directly to one of the competition's most sought-after forwards.
