Canberra's $1.1 million offer for Hudson Young complicates the Bulldogs' efforts to retain Jacob Preston.
The Bulldogs already had a fight on their hands to keep Jacob Preston, but it got even harder on Thursday afternoon through no fault of their own.
When Canberra tabled a monster offer to back-rower Hudson Young worth $1.1 million for the next three seasons, the back row market took a sudden and seismic shift.
The Raiders' offer contained no ratchet clauses, just a flat fee. Big bucks for one of the best back-rowers in the game. An Australian representative no less.
Remarkably, Young is no certainty to take the deal. He may yet decide to explore Papua New Guinea and the tax-free incentives on offer in Port Moresby.
The Raiders, as much as they would like to keep Young, won't stand in his way if he heads down that path.