The Papua New Guinea (PNG) National Rugby League (NRL) team has temporarily suspended its efforts to sign star back-rower Hudson Young, citing concerns that meeting the player’s salary expectations and the NRL’s valuation would significantly disrupt their salary cap management. Young, a prominent player for the Canberra Raiders and a New South Wales (NSW) State of Origin representative, has become a focal point in discussions about the financial market power of newly established NRL clubs.

Young recently declined a three-year, $3.3 million contract extension from the Raiders, which represented the largest annual offer in the club’s history. He opted instead to explore interest from the PNG team, prompting Canberra CEO Don Furner to grant him permission to negotiate with the new franchise before his contract expires on November 1. Young was also scheduled to tour the PNG team’s facilities in Port Moresby.

NRL Intervention on Player Valuations

Adding a layer of complexity, Furner reportedly contacted the NRL’s salary cap auditor to ensure that any contract signed by Young with the PNG team would be registered at a value deemed appropriate by the league’s head office. This stance was echoed by ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys during a recent meeting with NRL club CEOs, where he emphasized the league’s oversight on player contract valuations, though he did not name Young specifically.

Sources close to the negotiations, speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the discussions, indicated that Canberra’s offer of approximately $1.1 million per year could be financially prohibitive for the PNG team. Reports suggest that the PNG club had budgeted a maximum of $950,000 for Young, a figure that is unlikely to be approved by the NRL’s salary cap auditors.

Benchmarking Player Salaries in the NRL

While Young is widely recognized as one of the top back-rowers in the NRL, the absence of an updated benchmarking document from the league has made it challenging for clubs to accurately assess player market values. The most recent available document, dating back to 2025, indicated that the average salary for the top five highest-paid second-rowers was $887,635. This list included players like Haumole Olakau’atu (Manly Sea Eagles) and Jeremiah Nanai (North Queensland Cowboys), as well as David Fifita, who took a reduced salary when moving to the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

The PNG team benefits from tax-free wages and significant third-party sponsorship opportunities, giving them a competitive edge in player recruitment. This advantage has raised concerns among existing NRL clubs, particularly in light of the recruitment challenges faced by other expansion teams, such as the Perth Bears, who are preparing for their inaugural season.

PNG Team’s Recruitment Strategy and Concerns

The PNG team’s roster is being shaped by a new leadership group, including rookie coach Willie Peters and general manager of football Michael Chammas. Recruitment chief Liam Ayoub, a former player agent, is also involved. Officials from the PNG club are reportedly wary of being perceived as a catalyst for inflating player prices, whether driven by player agents or rival clubs.

The team has already made significant investments, notably signing Jarome Luai for a reported $1.2 million. Their roster for the 2028 season also includes notable players such as Alex Johnston, Zac Lomax, Joey Manu, Brian To’o, Connor Watson, and Matty Lees. Despite projections that the NRL salary cap could rise to around $15 million by 2028, the PNG team has structured its initial seven contracts without the ‘ratchet deals’ commonly found in the NRL, which automatically increase a player’s salary based on certain performance metrics or market changes. Notably, Young’s offer from Canberra also did not include such a clause.

Young’s Stance and Future Prospects

Young had been expected to visit PNG the following month, and the PNG team had expressed quiet confidence in securing their primary recruitment target, given that all previous players who toured the country subsequently signed with the club. However, with the current pause in negotiations, all discussions are on hold until November 1, when Young officially enters the free agency period.

Speaking at the NSW Blues awards night, the 28-year-old expressed his commitment to remaining with the Raiders, stating, “I have no interest in playing for another NRL club, and [coach] Ricky [Stuart] and I have spoken about that.” He acknowledged that the PNG opportunity presented a different path, but emphasized his transparent communication with Stuart regarding his desires and considerations.

The situation highlights the evolving landscape of NRL recruitment, the financial considerations for new franchises, and the league’s role in regulating player valuations to maintain competitive balance across all clubs.