Manly offer Trbojevic two-year deal; NRL stand firm on Young valuation

Manly have offered Tom Trbojevic a two-year deal in a bid to ensure the Kangaroos star finishes his career as a one-club player.

The Sea Eagles have also offered Trbojevic’s potential fullback successor, Lehi Hopoate, a two-year contract extension. The club is also in active negotiations to retain forward Caleb Navale.

Tom Trbojevic is one of 11 Kangaroos off contract.Getty ImagesIt comes as the NRL confirmed Hudson Young’s market value under the salary cap would be $1 million, meaning the PNG Chiefs will need to up their $900,000 offer to the Canberra forward.

Trbojevic is one of 11 Australian internationals off contract as Kevin Walters’ side prepares to take on Samoa in a World Cup semi-final at Allianz Stadium on Sunday night.

Manly hope a two-year offer of about $1.75 million will be enough to take Trbojevic off the market.

The last contract Trbojevic signed was for one season. However, Manly are optimistic the offer of a second year will be enough to end speculation about the fullback’s future. The club say the deal reflects the esteem in which Manly hold their fullback while also being fiscally responsible, given Trbojevic has played only 70 games in five years do to injuries.

Trbojevic has always maintained he wants to finish his career at Manly and at one point attempted to take a pay cut due to the number of games he has missed through injury.

The 30-year-old is tied with New Zealand’s Casey McLean for most tries during the World Cup, but has also had some defensive lapses playing in the unaccustomed wing position.

Trbojevic and fellow Kangaroos Jack Bostock, Bradman Best, Sam Walker, Latrell Mitchell, Cameron Munster, Harry Grant, James Tedesco, Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin and David Fifita have been free agents since November 1.

Hopoate, meanwhile, is wearing the No.1 jersey as part of Tonga’s World Cup campaign. The 21-year-old is a valued member of the Sea Eagles back line, having played 43 NRL games on the wing, 32 at fullback, five at centre and two off the bench since his first-grade debut in 2024.

Manly rising star Lehi Hopoate in action for Tonga.Getty ImagesBoth Hopoate and Toluta’u Koula, who has made a home in the centres, are long-term fullback options once Trbojevic retires. Manly also recently re-signed the promising Large brothers, Ashton and Onitoni, to contract extensions until the end of 2029.

The Sea Eagles aren’t expected to be a big mover on the open market unless they can offload several contracted players. Manly is prepared to honour the deals of Luke Brooks, Jamal Fogarty and Ethan Bullimore, but won’t stand in their way if they can secure a long-term contract elsewhere. Blake Wilson was last week granted an early release to join the Perth Bears.

Meanwhile, the Raiders will consider the prospect of granting Young an early release – if one is requested – in a bid to bolster their front-row stocks.

The NRL has put a notional salary cap value of $1 million on Young’s head after Canberra offered the NSW back-rower a four-year, $1.1 million per season extension. While the Raiders have since withdrawn that offer, the NRL won’t budge from the seven-figure valuation ascribed to him.

Hudson Young after arriving in Port Moresby.The Chiefs have been adamant they were only prepared to go as high as $900,000 per season given Young’s age (28), the fact he is coming off an Achilles injury and the other back-row options available on the market.

However, they will be stung for $1 million in the salary cap if they sign Young, even if the NSW back-rower was to accept a lower offer. That will come as welcome news to the Raiders and other clubs, who were concerned PNG would be able to attract players for “unders” given their wages will be tax-free.

“The NRL salary cap auditor and [NRL executive chairman] Peter V’landys have done the job under the salary cap rules, as I understand them,” said Canberra chief executive Don Furner. “That is fair and reasonable.”

Whether the Chiefs are prepared to pay seven figures for Young, who is touring their facilities in Port Moresby, remains to be seen.

The Raiders are in the market for a middle forward, and would consider releasing or swapping Young if he wanted to finish up early in the nation’s capital.

When asked about the prospect of an early release, Canberra coach Ricky Stuart told The Canberra Times: “That’s up to Hudson and his management to ask for that, but I’d definitely look at it.”

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