Hudson Young Agrees a Two-Year Deal With the PNG Chiefs, but the Chiefs Say It Isn’t Official Yet
Hudson Young has agreed a two-year deal to join the PNG Chiefs from 2028, the Daily Telegraph and CODE Sports reported, after the Canberra Raiders pulled the richest offer in their history.
The Chiefs are not confirming it yet. They told PNG’s Post-Courier that reports of a signed deal were not official, and the Telegraph says the announcement is due next week.
Why he chose Port Moresby
Young toured the Chiefs’ set-up on Wednesday and met coach Willie Peters and general manager of football Michael Chammas. He told the Sydney Morning Herald that money was a big part of it, and he was open about why.
“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,” he said. “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.”
He was also clear about the club he is leaving. “Canberra is a club I love. ‘Sticky’ has given me everything, and he still does.”
How the Raiders lost him
The Raiders took a $4.4 million offer off the table last week, the biggest they have ever made to a player, Fox Sports reported. Ricky Stuart said the club had gone as far as it could. “We bent over backwards to try and keep Hudson and it would have been unfair on the club if we had went any further,” he told News Corp.
Because Canberra’s offer was worth $1.1 million a season, the Chiefs will have to count Young at about $1 million a year on their salary cap. Zero Tackle reported the NRL had stepped in after an earlier offer was judged below market value.
Young starred for the NSW Blues in this year’s series win before a ruptured Achilles in July ended his season and his World Cup.
One more year in green
Stuart is fed up and would let Young go straight away if another club wanted him for 2027, Fox Sports reported. Young does not want that. “If I do move on in 2028, I don’t want to play for another club in 2027,” he said. A move next year would be hard anyway while he recovers from the Achilles.
What the Chiefs are building
Young would be the Chiefs’ first big-name forward. Their backline already includes Jarome Luai, Brian To’o, Joey Manu, Alex Johnston and Zac Lomax. They also chased Nathan Cleary, who chose to stay at Penrith with his brother Jett, and Sam Walker is on their list.
Our first story on Young, Stuart and the $1 million question has how the Raiders talks fell apart.
