Canberra Raiders centre Matthew Timoko is reportedly set to test his value on the open market, with the Kiwi-born star expected to head to free agency on November 1 rather than activating options in his current contract.

Contract situation & free-agency move.

 

 

Canberra Raiders centre Matthew Timoko is reportedly set to explore his open-market value instead of activating the remaining options in his current contract. According to reports, Timoko is expected to become a free agent on 1 November, rather than having his contract extended via the option clause.

He is currently contracted to the Raiders through 2027 and 2028 under his deal, but those latter years are structured as a mutual option, which neither party has yet triggered.

Why now?

There are several factors at play:

Timoko has established himself as a high-quality centre. For example, he appeared in 25 games in 2025, scored 10 tries and made 97 tackle-busts.

Centres in the NRL market heading into 2027 are relatively scarce — meaning his services are likely in demand.

From the Raiders’ perspective, keeping him may be challenging due to salary-cap pressures and the volume of emerging young talent in their system.

For Timoko, going to the open market offers the opportunity for a “significant upgrade” in remuneration and/or leverage in contract negotiation.

Implications for the Raider.

Retaining Timoko would remain a priority for the Raiders, but the club must balance this commitment with overall cap management and their recruitment/development pipeline.

If Timoko departs, the Raiders may need to look toward younger centres or free-agency targets to fill the gap — a process that could affect team continuity and performance on the edge.

The mutual-option years being untriggered suggests both sides are keeping their flexibility, which may lead to negotiation leverage for Timoko or allow the Raiders to plan contingencies.

Implications for Timoko

By allowing the option years to lapse and testing the open market, Timoko positions himself to secure the best possible deal — whether that is with the Raiders or another club.

Given his form and market demand at centre, he is in a strong negotiating position.

He also gives himself agency to choose among interested clubs, potentially finding the optimal fit or financial package.

Market outlook & clubs of interest

With centre talent in demand and fewer off-contract standouts for 2027, Timoko could attract multiple suitors.

Reports specifically indicate that the newly-formed club Perth Bears (entering negotiations) may be one of the interested parties in Timoko’s services.

Other clubs looking to upgrade their centre options will likely monitor his status closely once the market opens.

Summary

Matthew Timoko, a Kiwi-born centre with the Canberra Raiders, is reportedly opting to test the open market from 1 November rather than activating his contract’s mutual option years. With his strong form, the scarcity of top-quality centres in coming seasons and salary-cap realities for the Raiders, the decision positions all parties — Timoko, the Raiders and potential new clubs — for a high-stakes negotiation.