NSW Origin star offered new three-year deal as NRL’s back-row arms race heats up

Canberra have offered Hudson Young a multimillion-dollar, three-year extension as his Raiders teammate Morgan Smithies agreed terms to join Perth next season.

The Raiders have progressed negotiations with Young after he was sidelined with a season-ending Achilles injury last weekend, and are gunning to keep their star NSW back-rower off the open market on November 1.

A three-year deal would keep Young in the nation’s capital until the end of 2030. With the NRL’s salary cap forecast to rise to at least $15 million from 2028, Young’s total extension is expected to be worth around $3 million and make him one of the game’s best-paid back-rowers.

Along with Penrith enforcer and Blues teammate Liam Martin, Young is the most accomplished edge forward coming off-contract in 2027.

Young’s Achilles rupture came as a cruel blow to Canberra’s late-season finals charge given the 28-year-old’s superb Origin campaign and status as a nailed-on World Cup starter for the Kangaroos.

Canterbury’s Jacob Preston (24), Wests Tigers’ Samuela Fainu (22) and the Dolphins’ recent Queensland Origin debutant Kuikefu Finefeuiaki (22) represent the next crop of back-rowers yet to be tied down long-term, though the Tigers’ plans to present Fainu with an upgraded deal were a significant factor in Jarome Luai being released early to join Parramatta next year.

Martin’s agent will meet with the Panthers this week as the club works through its star-studded off-contract list, with co-captains Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo the club’s retention priorities.

Martin and Brian To’o have both been linked to the incoming PNG Chiefs franchise, and while Penrith will be given first and last rights on Martin’s future, a request for permission to negotiate early with rival clubs hasn’t been ruled out, either.

Teammate Moses Leota was granted a brief window to talk to rivals by the Panthers last month to get an idea of his market value.

Melbourne have also given five-eighth Cameron Munster permission to negotiate specifically with PNG after undergoing minor knee surgery, though the Storm have tabled a two-year extension for 2028-29 at a reduced rate from his estimated $1.25 million salary.

The Chiefs are unlikely to present their own offer until November 1, or when there is clarity around Cleary’s future given he is their preferred playmaking target.

Smithies, meanwhile, has agreed to terms on a three-year offer from Perth. The 25-year-old had been deep in negotiations with Canberra earlier this year before the club was told his preference was to move back to the UK and resume his English Super League career.

Perth’s offer proved too good for Smithies to refuse, but the English international will leave the Raiders on good terms despite the change of plans.

The Bears have also targeted Eels co-captain Junior Paulo as a potential captaincy option for inaugural coach Mal Meninga next season. Perth have slowly but surely built a robust pack with Penrith’s Liam Henry and Scott Sorensen, Cronulla utility Siosifa Talakai and Bulldogs back-rower Josh Curran their most notable signings up front.

The Bears have ample salary cap space to add a marquee spine player given Storm utility Tyran Wishart headlines their playmaking options for 2027.

Untimely injury could cost Roosters star place in record books

Christian Nicolussi

Daniel Tupou will return from a dislocated shoulder before the end of the season, but the latest injury looks set to deny him a chance to overtake Jared Waerea-Hargreaves as the most-capped player in Sydney Roosters’ history.

Tupou was forced from the field early in the second half against Newcastle on Friday evening and did not want a fuss made about his shoulder when teammates quickly gathered around him on the field.

The 35-year-old is expected to avoid surgery and opt for rehabilitation and strength work before returning on the eve of the finals.

Tupou has played 302 games for the Roosters, which puts him third on the all-time list with Anthony Minichiello, also 302 games, and only behind Mitch Aubusson (306) and Waerea-Hargreaves (310).

The fact the Roosters have six remaining regular-season games, and are a good chance of pushing deep into September – playing three or even four games – would have meant Tupou had a chance to rewrite club history.

The Roosters are happy to accommodate Tupou next year, but he remains unsure about playing on.

Roosters captain James Tedesco said it would have been nice to for Tupou to set a new mark, but was relieved the towering winger would be back this campaign.

“The other night he laid on the floor and said, with no emotion, ‘My shoulder’s out’,” Tedesco said of Tupou.

“That was it. We all went up to him, but he was his usual calm self. They popped it back in, he was still out there, and I started to think he was going to keep playing, but they took him off.

“They’ll get him into rehab and try to free it up as much as possible.

“The fact he has still played 300 games for the Roosters is the most important feat. He’s up there with some legends of this club and the game.

“He’ll be back and play an important role for us in the back end of the year.

“We’ll miss his carries and [ability] under the high ball, everything that makes him a great player, but the good thing is we’ve got depth in this squad.

“Players get older and you expect a bit of a dip [in form], but that’s not the case with ‘Toops’ – he goes about his business with no fuss and we have so much confidence and belief when he’s out there.”

While Tupou is undecided about extending his career into next season, Hugo Savala’s future has been finalised. The utility has agreed to remain at the Roosters until the end of 2028.

Savala is expected to move from the bench into the centres for Thursday’s trip to Townsville, with Billy Smith the likely wing replacement for Tupou.