Raiders recruitment guru Pete Mulholland's cancer battle continues

And it certainly won't stop the Canberra Raiders recruitment guru from doing the job he loves.

Mulholland went back into hospital on Thursday, but hoped to be out on the weekend. Then he'll continue chemotherapy for however many months he needs it.

It's a "kick in the guts" for the Raiders recruiter, who's a popular figure with the Green Machine faithful.

While he continues his battle with cancer, Mulholland also hoped to have Hudson Young's contract extension wrapped up by Christmas.

He was waiting to hear back from Albert Hopoate to see if the former Manly Sea Eagles back had accepted their offer following the 19-year-old's tour of their Braddon centre of excellence on Monday.

But first Mulholland will continue his battle with cancer, which he's been fighting for more than two years.

He's been diagnosed with a different form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma - B-cell instead of T-cell.

"It's re-emerged unfortunately. I had a PET scan about two weeks ago and they found that it's come back again," he said.

"The problem is it's come back in a different form.

"I got the phone call [Wednesday] to get straight back into hospital so I'm just waiting for the phone call now and they'll put me in today.

"At this stage I'll have treatment [Friday] and Saturday ... and if I come through those side effects alright I'll be out probably Sunday, and continue a normal regime of chemotherapy.

"It's a bit of a bugger. The problem is I feel well and I haven't lost any weight this time. It's just a real kick in the guts to be honest."

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With young prop Emre Guler having already agreed to terms on a two-year extension, Mulholland was hoping to have come to a similar arrangement with fellow forward Young before the Christmas break.

Young's off-contract at the end of the 2021 NRL season, but the Raiders want to lock him away until at least 2023.

The 22-year-old enjoyed a breakout season this year, establishing himself as part of the Canberra forward pack.

He showed he can play through the middle, but with the departure of John Bateman he'll also be in the mix to play in the second row.

"I'll see [Young's manager] when I get out of hospital and we'll start to talk," Mulholland said.

"I want to get it done before Christmas."

Hopoate toured the Raiders' first-class training facilities on Monday and was still eligible to play under-21s.

But if he decides to take up the Raiders' offer then he'll be training with the senior squad, with the young players returning for pre-season on Monday.

Hopoate made his NRL debut for Manly this year, but also spent time on loan with the New Zealand Warriors.

The Raiders were hoping to add him to their group of exciting young outside backs, which included Semi Valemei, Harley Smith-Shields and Matt Timoko.

Canberra were still waiting to hear back from Raiders winger Jordan Rapana's management to finalise a one-year offer.

The Raiders have also re-signed young prop Kai O'Donnell on a one-year development contract.

O'Donnell made his NRL debut against Melbourne in round nine and finished the season with four games under his belt.

"We put our offer in and we'll see if [Hopoate] comes back to us," Mulholland said.

"He's still young enough for the 20s [but] he'd train with the first grade.

"He's got the opportunity. If he wants to do it, it's great."