Updated ,first published
The Sydney Roosters and Canberra have sensationally spiked their lucrative offers to representative stars Sam Walker and Hudson Young – just six days before they will now become free agents.
Walker debuted for Australia against Fiji on Sunday night, then met with his management team first thing on Monday in the hope of thrashing out a three-year extension with the Roosters.
The playmaker parked all contract talks late in the regular season when the Roosters’ initial offer fell almost $1 million below his hopes.
The Roosters had given Walker’s management until Monday to accept their revised offer, which was understood to be worth about $1.4m a season, including ratchet clauses, which would keep him at Bondi until the end of 2030.
Walker, who made his Queensland Origin debut this year and won his first premiership with the Tricolours, said after the Kangaroos’ 36-22 win that included him scoring a try he was eager to lock down his future.
“I’ve spent this week not worrying about [the contract] and letting my manager do his job in the background,” Walker said.
“My job was to go out and play football. I’m sure on Monday I’ll have a conversation with him, and we’ll sit down and hopefully get something sorted.
“I’m sure I’ll have time over the next couple of days to [go through it].
“It’s nice to be wanted. I’m going to make a decision soon on my future. But right now, my focus was completely on making sure I got the win for Australia.”
The Roosters, however, confirmed late on Monday that they had withdrawn their offer.
“The Sydney Roosters have this evening advised the management of Sam Walker that the club’s offer for a contract extension beyond the 2027 season has been withdrawn after the parties were unable to reach an agreement on terms,” the club said.
“The club remains focused on maintaining a premiership-winning roster, with all recruitment and retention decisions made to support the strength, balance and long-term success of the playing squad.”
The Roosters will now turn their own focus to securing a topline playmaker. Nathan Cleary was linked to the club earlier this year, but the game’s best player has already commenced discussions about an extension at the Panthers.
Walker will head to the open market where he will attract plenty of interest, including the PNG Chiefs who are desperate to land a marquee playmaker.
Young will also pop up on the Chiefs’ radar after his own negotiations with Canberra broke down.
The Raiders wanted to make Young a one-club player, and tabled a four-year, $4.4m contract which would have been the richest deal in the club’s history.
But sources with knowledge of the situation not authorised to speak publicly confirmed that as late as last week, Young’s management wanted Canberra to include ratchet clauses in the contract.
With the salary cap expected to rise between 15 and 20 per cent under the new collective bargaining agreement, Young’s wage would have pushed towards $1.3 million – money normally reserved for playmakers.
“The club’s offer to Hudson and his management was intended to keep him at the Raiders for the rest of his career, as an integral part of the club and a potential future leader,” the club said in a statement.
“The offer that was made was the largest in club history. As a club, we believe we have done all we can to keep Hudson in Canberra.
“However, negotiations have been ongoing since June, and the club needed an answer before the end of October so they could plan for the future.”
Young will remain at the club for his final year in 2027 as the Raiders prepare to go to market, with several back-rowers – including Penrith’s Liam Martin and Cronulla’s Briton Nikora – potentially about to become free agents.
The PNG side baulked at Young’s $1.1m asking price, but are now expected to fly the representative forward north for talks.
The Mad Monday involving Walker and Young will cause an enormous ripple effect through the player market as clubs begin sharpening their pencils.
Walker’s split with the Roosters, albeit in 12 months time, will also become a huge talking point during the World Cup, a sideshow coach Kevin Walters was certain wouldn’t disrupt Australia’s campaign.
The Roosters won the premiership but lost Daly Cherry-Evans (Hull FC), Mark Nawaqanitawase and Angus Crichton to rugby, Spencer Leniu to Parramatta, Connor Watson to St George Illawarra, while Daniel Tupou retired.
They have already been linked to Dolphins’ centre Herbie Farnworth and Melbourne prop Stefano Utoikamanu.
News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Friday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
