Liam Martin has admitted he’s “really interested” in speaking to the Canberra Raiders about a deal beyond 2027, as he begins to work through all the offers he got once November 1 free agency began.
The Panthers star is off-contract after 2027 and is expected to be one of the higher-paid championship players who has to leave the club after a salary cap squeeze.
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Canberra would be a perfect destination for the 29-year-old, considering he was born in Temora and still has a lot of family from around there. The Raiders are also now resigned to losing Hudson Young to the PNG Chiefs expansion team after next season, with the Green Machine unable to match their pay.
“I’m open to it, close to home and it’s pretty interesting,” Martin told Channel Nine when asked about the Raiders as an option. “The boys speak very highly of Ricky [Stuart], so I’d be really interested. Penrith would still hopefully be my first option and work out a deal, but if not, I’d be looking forward to it.”
The Cronulla Sharks and Brisbane Broncos have also been inquiring about the champion second-rower since the November 1 date passed, but neither has the plug-and-play cash in the salary cap the Raiders do post-Young.
Either way, Martin has been very vocal about sorting out his future after the 2026 Rugby League World Cup. Australia plays in the semifinals on Sunday evening.
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