![\"Christian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/1794014173_246_635402f1698dc5687fb8f98be5c093fe76cbc56f.png\")
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November 7, 2026 \u2014 10:00am<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n No gift articles left<\/p>\n You’ve used all of your gift articles. 3 more will become available on the 1st of every month.<\/p>\n Close<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n Raiders forward Hudson Young says the PNG Chiefs\u2019 tax-free dollars will help wipe his mortgage and look after his family financially, while also conceding he wants to fulfil his final year at Canberra \u2013 provided coach Ricky Stuart will have him.<\/p>\n Young touched down in Sydney late on Friday, just hours after Chiefs coach Willie Peters confirmed out-of-favour Rooster Sam Walker<\/a> was a serious option as the club\u2019s inaugural halfback if Walker was genuine about a move north.<\/p>\n The Chiefs flew Young to Port Moresby on Wednesday, and hope to nail down the representative forward, who is recovering from a season-ending Achilles injury, as signing #008<\/a>.<\/p>\n Young does not want to leave the Chiefs waiting, and said it was important he got the chance to inspect the country for himself so he was comfortable with any decision to commit.<\/p>\n The newcomers initially discussed a $900,000-a-season offer for Young, only for the NRL to confirm his market value under the salary cap would be $1 million. Tax-free third-party sponsors will also sweeten any deal for Young, who is regarded as one of the best second-rowers in rugby league.<\/p>\n The Raiders sensationally pulled their $4.4m four-year offer<\/a> last week, and Stuart later told The Canberra Times he would entertain an early release for Young.<\/p>\n Young has stayed quiet about his future \u2013 until now.<\/p>\n \u201cPNG will want a decision soon, and I need to go back and speak to my family,\u201d Young told this masthead.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the reasons why I\u2019ve done this is because I\u2019m 28 years old, I\u2019m single, I don\u2019t have any family in Canberra. It\u2019s nothing against Canberra as to why I\u2019ve gone up there and had a look.<\/p>\n \u201cCanberra is a club I love. \u2018Sticky\u2019 [Stuart] has given me everything, and he still does.<\/p>\n \u201cBut it is in the back of my mind I can do two or three years up there and come home and be mortgage free.<\/p>\n \u201cI haven\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just doing what 170 other blokes [in the NRL] are doing and exploring my options. It\u2019s not about exploring my value.<\/p>\n Related Article \u201cThere\u2019s nothing there (in Canberra) holding me back from doing something like this. It\u2019s about where do I want to be in the next stage of my life and career.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a lot to take in. A lot has been said. I need to make a decision and back it.\u201d<\/p>\n Young said it had never entered his mind he would cut and run early from the Raiders in 2027.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I do move on in 2028, I don\u2019t want to play for another club in 2027,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cBut it comes down to Sticky, it\u2019s his team, if he doesn\u2019t see fit for me to play at the club, I\u2019d have to make a decision around that as well.<\/p>\n \u201cBut it\u2019s never crossed my mind for that to happen. I want to get back to 100 per cent with my leg and get back playing my best footy I can.\u201d<\/p>\n The Raiders offered Young the richest contract in the club\u2019s history, and were even prepared to extend the deal to a fifth season.<\/p>\n Club officials became frustrated when Young\u2019s management asked for ratchet clauses to be included in any package to allow for the salary cap rising in future years, which could have seen the back-rower\u2019s earning surge towards $1.3m a year, a figure the Raiders were never going to entertain.<\/p>\n Young ruptured his Achilles in the second half of the season, which cost him his Kangaroos jersey at the World Cup. It also paused his chance to tour Port Moresby earlier. He will return to pre-season training in the next fortnight, and said he would be back running before Christmas.<\/p>\n The Chiefs have already signed Joey Manu, Jarome Luai, Alex Johnston, Zac Lomax, Brian To\u2019o, Connor Watson and Matty Lees.<\/p>\n News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Friday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Hudson](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/fc2baba0216db70ee836d4691a5d63b890520f2a.jpeg\")
Hudson Young toured Port Moresby this week.<\/p>\n![\"Hudson](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/a6e4831d5e3dfeea765e104f2093b31b8127d916.jpeg\")
Hudson Young arrives back at Sydney airport after his trip to tour the PNG Chiefs facilities in Port Moresby.Christian Nicolussi\/SMH<\/p>\n![\"Raiders](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/7cd7acfda08e354993e87d64f9b59004437e3239.jpeg\")
Raiders backrower Hudson Young suffered a season-ending injury in Canberra\u2019s round 20 win over South Sydney.NRL Imagery<\/p>\n![\"Josh](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/1794014177_712_ee21cb5baa9eee04329c10b8bab2d3731b6dfe6e.jpeg\")
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