Why the Raiders pulled their mega offer to Hudson Young

Canberra have sensationally withdrawn their mega offer to Hudson Young after the club were informed by his management the back-rower was holding out for nearly $1.3 million a year.

As Sam Walker met with his management team on Monday in the hope of finally brokering a new deal that will keep him at the Sydney Roosters – and off the open market come Sunday’s November 1 deadline – it was as different story in the nation’s capital.

The Raiders wanted to make Young a one-club player, and tabled a four-year, $4.4m contract which would have been the richest deal in the club’s history.

But sources with knowledge of the situation not authorised to speak publicly confirmed that as late as last week, Young’s management wanted Canberra to include ratchet clauses in the contract.

With the salary cap expected to rise between 15 and 20 per cent under the new collective bargaining agreement, Young’s wage would have pushed towards $1.3 million – money normally reserved for playmakers.

“The club’s offer to Hudson and his management was intended to keep him at the Raiders for the rest of his career, as an integral part of the club and a potential future leader,” the club said in a statement.

“The offer that was made was the largest in club history. As a club, we believe we have done all we can to keep Hudson in Canberra.

“However, negotiations have been ongoing since June, and the club needed an answer before the end of October so they could plan for the future.”

Young will remain at the club for his final year in 2027 as the Raiders prepare to go to market, with several back-rowers – including Penrith’s Liam Martin and Cronulla’s Briton Nikora – potentially about to become free agents.

The pulled deal also means Young is free to tour Port Moresby and weigh up the tax-free dollars on offer with the Chiefs. The PNG side baulked at Young’s $1.1m asking price, but are now expected to fly the representative forward north for talks.

Meanwhile, Walker, who achieved a childhood dream of playing for Australia against Fiji on Sunday night in a 36-22 win that included him scoring a try, provided a quick update about his own playing future with the Roosters.

The Bondi club were eager to know by Monday if he was ready to accept their three-year extension, worth around $1.4m a season, which would keep him at the club until at least the end of 2030.

The 24-year-old was happy to park all talks in the back half of the regular NRL season, then made it clear last week he wanted all the focus on his Kangaroos’ debut.

“I’ve spent this week not worrying about [the contract] and letting my manager do his job in the background,” Walker said.

“My job was to go out and play football. I’m sure on Monday I’ll have a conversation with him, and we’ll sit down and hopefully get something sorted.

“I’m sure I’ll have time over the next couple of days to [go through it].

“It’s nice to be wanted. I’m going to make a decision soon on my future. But right now, my focus was completely on making sure I got the win for Australia.”

Walker has made it clear he has little appetite for going to the open market, with all players off contract at the end of 2027 open to fielding offers from rival clubs from November 1.

The Roosters won the premiership but lost Daly Cherry-Evans (Hull FC), Mark Nawaqanitawase and Angus Crichton to rugby, Spencer Leniu to Parramatta, Connor Watson to St George Illawarra, while Daniel Tupou retired.

Locking down Walker has become a priority. The club has also been linked to Dolphins’ centre Herbie Farnworth and Melbourne prop Stefano Utoikamanu, who family is eager for a return home to Sydney.

Walker, Hugo Savala and Toby Rodwell are viewed as the Roosters’ future halves players.

The on-field chemistry Walker has with James Tedesco, who has indicated he is eager to play on for one final year in 2028, was one of the few positives for the Roos on Sunday night. The team will need to improve quickly if they are to defend their World Cup, starting with Saturday’s trip to Townsville to face the Cook Islands.

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