The Rugby League Players Association wants to introduce match payments, which will help top up the salaries of those towards the lower end of the pay scale.

Departing star Daly Cherry-Evans says he admired the way the Tricolours dealt with Sam Walker’s contract situation – but maintained his premiership-winning halves partner was right to put his own interests first.

Victor Radley is a local junior who bleeds red, white and blue. But the three-time premiership winner will for the first time in his career entertain offers from NRL rivals come November 1.

Less than a day after the Roosters withdrew their offer, Australia coach Kevin Walters omitted Walker from the side to face Cook Islands – but insisted his contract situation played no part in the decision.

The former Manly hooker, who has served nearly four years in prison for stabbing a Mormon church leader in 2019, is due to be released on parole on Friday and attended Tonga training wearing an ankle monitor.

So what happens with Walker and Hudson Young and the Sydney Roosters and Canberra Raiders now?

The Canberra star was two days into a fortnight’s break in Phuket when he received the call-up from Kevin Walters. Now he’s preparing to make his Australia debut.

Canberra withdrew their offer to Hudson Young on Monday – three hours later, the Sydney Roosters did likewise with Sam Walker.