Moses Leota Is the Raiders’ First Choice to Replace Hudson Young, and Rothfield Says PNG Weren’t Young’s First Choice
The Canberra Raiders want Penrith prop Moses Leota to fill the gap Hudson Young leaves, Phil Rothfield said on Triple M, and they plan to use the money they had set aside for Young.
“I think he’s a big, big chance of going to Canberra with the Hudson Young money,” Rothfield said. “They’re basically left with Joe Tapine and they’re going to throw everything at Moses Leota. They think he is the sort of player that will give them that ‘oomph’.”
Why Canberra need forwards
Josh Papalii has retired, and Corey Horsburgh and Morgan Smithies are going to the Perth Bears. Young has agreed a deal with the PNG Chiefs from 2028. The Raiders have signed Josiah Pahulu, Lipoi Hopoi and Jaiyden Hunt, but Rothfield said Tapine “needs help in the guts”.
Leota is free to talk
Leota has no deal beyond 2027, and Penrith gave him permission to talk to other clubs before 1 November, Zero Tackle reported. He won four premierships in a row with the Panthers.
The twist on Young
Rothfield also said Port Moresby was not Young’s first choice. “I know for a fact that PNG weren’t his first choice,” he said. “Sam Ayoub, his manager, rang two clubs I’m aware of and said, he wants to win a competition.”
“He was chasing a premiership and both clubs said, ‘we do not have the money’, so he was left to take the PNG money. That is fact. Absolute fact. I wish I could mention the clubs but I’d be breaking confidence.”
That sits awkwardly with what Young told the Sydney Morning Herald, that he could play “two or three years up there and come home and be mortgage-free”. Our first story on Young and Ricky Stuart covers how his Raiders talks broke down.
Penrith are already moving on their own deals. Jett Cleary has signed to 2028 and Nathan Cleary has turned down the PNG Chiefs.
