Hudson Young's contract negotiations with the Raiders and PNG Chiefs faced criticism, ending with the Raiders retracting their $4.4 million offer.
Hudson Young's contract negotiations involving Canberra and the PNG Chiefs have been described as the "dumbest" one leading journalist has ever seen while another has questioned his loyalty to Ricky Stuart.
Young was offered a deal by the Raiders but refused to sign, with speculation that the Chiefs were keen on offering him a tax-free deal worth $900,000 a season from 2028.
In a bid to fight off the Chiefs, the Raiders offered Young a four-year, $4.4 million contract - the richest in club history.
But the Raiders, wanting to be in a position to offer another potential free agent a deal from November 1, decided on Monday to pull Young's massive offer.