Grim scenario arises after Barr comments, as rugby league union speak out.
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'I'd hate for something catastrophic to happen': Could safety fears push Raiders, Brumbies to Manuka after all?
We didn't say it. You did, Chief Minister.
Now we can't help but wonder - what
would happen if Canberra Stadium no longer met requirements to host NRL and Super Rugby matches?
ACT leader Andrew Barr answered the question himself when Member for Yerrabi James Milligan asked at the Legislative Assembly last week what "Plan B" would be in such a scenario where two major codes deemed the stadium not up to scratch.
"That's a hypothetical question because neither organisation [NRL or Super Rugby] has made such a suggestion, but Manuka Oval is of course available for elite sport," the Chief Minister replied.
"It has hosted games in the past and there are other rectangular football venues in the city."
It was a response that drew the ire of Raiders coach Ricky Stuart, who called Barr's comments
"disrespectful" and "ridiculous".
So is Manuka Oval
really now an option on the table for NRL and Super Rugby? Will this be a situation just like when the
AIS Arena closed for all events for four years
due to safety upgrades?
And is accepting all of this the future that Canberrans want for elite sports in the nation's capital?
A Manuka move from Bruce seems it would be a spectacular confirmation of what has been debated and reported about for years - that Canberra Stadium had finally met its end, and was deemed no longer fit for purpose, even as no similarly sized replacement option was available in the capital.
It's a grim scenario, but it could be one the two biggest teams in Canberra - the Raiders and Brumbies - have to confront as concerns about the condition of the stadium are at an all-time high.
Between a leaking roof, concrete cancer, asbestos, foul smells, lights that need upgrades and last week's headline-grabbing images of water dripping from ceiling cracks and change room smoke alarms, along with shattering glass windows that injured a coach, Canberra Stadium has given many reasons over the years that it is a legitimate safety concern.
But as Rugby League Players Association (RLPA) chief executive Clint Newton concluded: "Now more than ever, this is probably at its lowest ebb."
The RLPA is currently investigating further with the NRL if the minimum standards set out in the code's operations manual are being met, and if not, Newton is calling for that to be rectified.
He questioned the state of facilities at Canberra Stadium and whether the safety of players was being jeopardised.
As the RLPA rallies to work with the NRL and other sporting code unions such as the Rugby Union Players Association and the Professional Footballers Association, Newton was worried about the situation being ignored to a point where a more dangerous outcome could unfold.
"I'd hate for something catastrophic to happen," he told
The Canberra Times.
"It can often wait for things to get so bad for change to happen. We've seen these more recent issues shine a brighter light on the ongoing concerns."
An annual player survey revealed that between Canberra Stadium and the best-ranked NRL venue in the country as voted by RLPA members - Lang Park - there's a huge difference.
"We asked them different things associated with their workplace, the environment and facilities, and based on our survey match-day facilities for the Raiders are an issue for the whole playing group collectively," Newton said.
"By comparison to the top-ranked venue in the league for areas like the change rooms, there is more than a 30 per cent difference between the Raiders' home ... it's a big drop-off.
"How that impacts the Raiders is their ability to attract and retain the best talent if their facilities are sub-standard or performing poorly.
"It's obviously further deteriorated recently and that's a major issue."
Newtown said the safety of players whether the home or away team was of "paramount" importance though, making the issues plaguing Canberra Stadium not just a concern for the Raiders.
"It's imperative like in any workplace, that they are provided with a safe workplace," he said.
"Some of the stuff we've spoken about is leaks throughout the sheds, and having to steer clear of areas because of it, particularly the strapping area.
"Around the stadium too member families can be affected with drainage issues as we've seen, causing cascading water flowing into the seating.
"There's also water dripping out of smoke alarms which is potentially an electrical and fire hazard.
"All we can do is present the information, and obviously, ask for a 'please explain' on the conditions, are they fit for purpose, and do they meet standards that every worker should expect?
"Our players are extremely tolerant, but if we've got a situation that is potentially unsafe or a hazard in their workplace, then that's a problem."
Newton argued for greater government investment, which he said had a proven return at other rugby league venues around the country, and that NRL facilities must keep up with the expectations put on players to deliver a captivating billion-dollar sporting product.
"It's not just about entertainment, it's still a workplace that provides work opportunities and it's a multibillion-dollar industry that gives back to communities," he said.
As much as Manuka Oval is available for much of the NRL and Super Rugby season and is a venue used for professional sport at the top level, there are numerous issues that emerge by pursuing that route.
For one, the Raiders would be cutting their home game gate revenue potential in half - and its corporate hospitality too - with Manuka Oval's capacity around 15000. Last year the Raiders averaged 18446 at 11 regular season home games.
The Brumbies could be better placed to deal with the reduced capacity with Super Rugby games in Canberra attracting a smaller audience, but other hurdles remain.
The facilities and ground lay-out are geared towards use by cricket and AFL, rather than rugby league or rugby union. The hint is in the oval shape of the ground.
Then there's the concerns about Manuka Oval's ability to cater for sellouts at maximum capacity with toilet availability and limited food and drink outlet options all major issues in the past.
The inner-city ground unfortunately doesn't have as much parking available as Bruce either, which could be a headache for fans and surrounding residents.
As for Seiffert Oval, there's a capacity of 15000 with only 2000 seated, and Viking Park can have 7000 people but only 1000 seated and its broadcast capabilities are extremely limited. McKellar Park and Deakin Stadium are even smaller and not used for rugby league or union.
ACT member for Ginninderra Peter Cain last week put forward probing questions on notice to Barr and Sports Minister Yvette Berry about Canberra Stadium.
Six detailed submissions covered questions about whether an occupational hygienist was engaged to assess workplace health risks, clarification was sought on construction code standards, safety glass requirements and even if mould and air quality assessments were conducted in recent years.
One submission also concentrates on seeking answers to Barr's assertion in July last year that Canberra Stadium still has a decade of life remaining, even though previous government reports indicated its "use-by" date was "around 2027".
The Canberra Liberals have already pushed the government to conduct an independent condition and safety audit after WorkSafe ACT was called into the venue following an embarrassing month for the capital's premier stadium.
Canberra Stadium has never been in such spotlight, with national attention from both politics and sport's leading figures.
But those that use the stadium - fans, teams, businesses and broadcasters - could find this path to answers and conclusions leads to an only rockier road ahead.
