Hudson Young has reportedly agreed a deal with the Papua New Guinea Chiefs.
According to Code Sports, the 28-year-old will sign a two-year deal with the Chiefs from 2028 on a deal worth around $1 million a season.
It comes after the Raiders sensationally pulled their $4.4m four-year offer for the back rower last week, with Ricky Stuart telling The Canberra Times he would entertain an early release for Young after contract negotiations stalled.
However, it is understood he will remain in the nations capital next year before calling PNG home.
It comes after Young told SMH that joining the NRL’s 19th franchise will set him up for life after touching down in Sydney from his trip to PNG on Saturday.
“One of the reasons why I’ve done this is because I’m 28 years old, I’m single, I don’t have any family in Canberra. It’s nothing against Canberra as to why I’ve gone up there and had a look,” Young told SMH.
“Canberra is a club I love. ‘Sticky’ [Stuart] has given me everything, and he still does.
“But it is in the back of my mind I can do two or three years up there and come home and be mortgage free.
“I haven’t come from money, so there are those benefits I can give my family and everyone around me. I also want to keep developing as a good footballer.
“I’m just doing what 170 other blokes [in the NRL] are doing and exploring my options. It’s not about exploring my value.
“There’s nothing there (in Canberra) holding me back from doing something like this. It’s about where do I want to be in the next stage of my life and career.”
Landing the NSW Origin player continues the Chiefs’ impressive recruitment drive, which includes the likes of Jarome Luai, Alex Johnston, Zac Lomax, Connor Watson, Brian To’o and Joey Manu.
More to come.
Originally published as Hudson Young agrees deal to join PNG Chiefs for 2028