NRL lets players challenge valuations as PNG Chiefs pursue Hudson Young
The NRL will allow players to contest their market value, potentially helping PNG Chiefs sign Hudson Young.
The NRL has announced players can challenge the salary cap valuation placed on them, opening a path for PNG Chiefs to re-enter talks with Canberra's Hudson Young. The governing body initially valued Young at $1.1 million a season, matching the Raiders' offer.
The Chiefs, who don't pay tax on player wages, offered only $900,000 a year. Young would earn far more at PNG but salary cap rules forced the Chiefs to pay $1.1 million against their limit.
A salary cap auditor later reduced Young's value to $1 million, but the Chiefs say that is still $100,000 more than they will spend on a player recovering from an Achilles injury. Under the new rules, any player can challenge their assigned value on grounds such as family reasons or being keen to join a particular club.
Young's manager can now pursue that path.
- $1.1 million per season
- Initial NRL valuation
- $900,000 per year
- PNG Chiefs offer
- $1 million
- Auditor revaluation
- $100,000
- Salary cap difference Chiefs rejected
Why it mattersYoung gets a real chance to negotiate where he plays. The Chiefs get hope of signing a key recruit while the NRL protects the salary cap from pure financial competition and allows genuine player choice.
AustraliaPNG Chiefs' success in signing Australian stars directly affects the viability of the new NRL expansion franchise and the league's competition balance in Australia.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 2 h ago
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