Source :- THE AGE NEWS
Canberra will table the richest deal in the club’s history to back-rower – and PNG Chiefs target – Hudson Young.
Sources with knowledge of the situation on Thursday confirmed the Raiders had increased their offer to $3.3 million over three years in the hope Young recommits before he hits the open market on November 1.
Jack Wighton was offered $4 million over four years before he took less money to join South Sydney, but the offer to Young is the richest per season in the club’s history.
The same sources confirmed the club has been in regular contact with Young this week as he recovers from a season-ending Achilles injury.
Canberra Raiders
1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Jed Stuart 3. Simi Sasagi 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Ethan Sanders 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Owen Pattie 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Zac Hosking 12. Matt Nicholson 13. Ata Mariota
Bench: 14. Tom Starling 15. Joseph Roddy 16. Corey Horsburgh 17. Daine Laurie 18. Vena Patuki-Case 19. Savelio Tamale
Brisbane Broncos
1. Hayze Perham 2. Josiah Karapani 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Deine Mariner 5. Grant Anderson 6. Ezra Mam 7. Ben Hunt 8. Xavier Willison 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Jaiyden Hunt 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan
Bench: 14. Blake Mozer 15. Aublix Tawha 16. Jack Gosiewski 17. Va’a Semu 18. Thomas Duffy 19. Gehamat Shibasaki
As well as playing to keep their finals hopes alive, tonight also doubles as the final game for Canberra great Josh Papalii, the most-capped Raider of all time, who will hang up the boots at the end of the season.
Papalii will make his 341st appearance for the club tonight, his last at GIO Stadium at the end of a career spanning 16 seasons.
The veteran front-rower played 24 State of Origin matches for Queensland and 11 Tests for Australia, plus 13 for Samoa.
The Broncos are plumbing new depths just 10 months after ending their 19-year premiership drought.
Brisbane’s 40-6 loss to the Warriors on Saturday night was their 15th defeat for the season, the most by any defending premier in 118 years.
The ignominy of finishing as wooden spooners is unlikely, but remains in play if Brisbane lose their remaining games against Canberra, Melbourne and Canterbury. The last-placed Dragons are in far better form, and now sit four points behind the Broncos and Titans on the ladder.
Only two defending premiers have fallen all the way to last place the following season: Wests Magpies in 1952-53 (in a 10-team NSWRL competition) and Canterbury in 1942-43 (they finished equal last in an eight-team competition).
And now superstar fullback Reece Walsh is out with an ankle injury.
The Raiders haven’t been inside the top eight since round one and were sitting in second-last place after 16 rounds, but have since won five of their past seven games to keep their slim finals hopes alive.
With a bye next weekend, Canberra have just two games left to play in the regular season. Beat the Broncos tonight and they’ll be four competition points behind the eighth-placed Cowboys – who they happen to face in the final round.
What else needs to go right for the Raiders to make it? North Queensland (who have the bye this weekend) would need to lose to the Wests Tigers next week, while the Bulldogs and Sea Eagles – currently ranked ninth and 10th – would each need to lose at least one game. The 11th-placed Storm have already done Canberra a favour by losing to Penrith last night.
But lose tonight, and the Raiders’ top-eight hopes are cooked.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of tonight’s double-header, featuring two of the best teams of 2025, a dark horse for the 2026 title, and one club that already has one eye on 2027.
First up, reigning premiers Brisbane take on reigning minor premiers Canberra – but both are now stuck in the bottom half of the ladder. The Raiders still have a remote chance of reaching the finals if results go their way, while the Broncos could slip all the way to last place after losing 12 of their past 13 games.
Then the fourth-placed Dolphins look to extend their four-game winning streak against Parramatta, who are making a habit of playing out tight contests. The Eels’ past four games have been decided by six points or less, though they’ll be doing well to keep pace tonight with one of the most dangerous backlines in the competition.
Kick-off is at 6pm and 8pm. Stay with us.
