New Civic Stadium would enhance Canberra's Magic Round chances

The NRL is holding its inaugural Magic Round this weekend, with all eight games for round nine played at Suncorp Stadium over four days.

The Queensland government has paid about $2.1 million per year for the privilege of hosting it in 2019 and 2020.

While the NRL has the option to keep it in Brisbane for another two years after that, they're also open to the idea of moving it around like the English Super League does.

The Canberra Times revealed the NRL was open to Canberra hosting it in the future.

Canberra Raiders chief executive Don Furner said it would be fantastic to bring the concept to the ACT.

But he said a new Civic Stadium would increase the chances of that happening.

"Yes, no question. It would definitely help. Facilities are number one, a new stadium would definitely help our chances," Furner said.

"It'd be fantastic, particularly in the warmer weather - say in April.

"That'd be up to the government and the NRL sitting down and we would be big promoters of it.

"It'd be fantastic if that was available. It would certainly be great for Canberra to have something like [the Magic Round]."

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A Civic Stadium has been on the ACT government's wishlist for a number of years now as they try to find the money to fund it.

They're waiting until after the federal election to find out what the federal government plans to do with several AIS facilities like Canberra Stadium.

But even if a new Civic Stadium isn't built, Furner said Canberra Stadium would be an ideal venue for Magic Round.

The surface is immaculate - unlike Suncorp where there are concerns over the surface after Thursday night's opener.

"It is [like a billiard table], the surface is fine. I reckon it'd be a perfect size, like the one at Parramatta - they're perfect sizes," Furner said.

"If we ever got a new stadium it doesn't need to be much bigger than that, it just seems to work. But there's no doubt our stadium could handle it."

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said they were open to the idea of hosting it, but their main focus was on supporting the Green Machine.

They will contribute about $1.6 million to the Raiders' coffers this year.

ARL Commission chair Peter Beattie tweeted Magic Round will pump about $20 million into the Queensland economy.

"While the magic round is an interesting idea, let's see how it goes," Barr said.

"Our preference is to direct the bulk of government funding for rugby league to the Canberra Raiders, rather than other teams.

"It might be a future option to celebrate a new stadium in Canberra, provided it's commercially viable."

NRL ROUND NINE

Sunday: Canberra Raiders v Sydney Roosters at Suncorp Stadium, 2pm.

Raiders squad: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Nick Cotric, 3. Jarrod Croker (c), 4. Michael Oldfield, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. Sam Williams, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hodgson (c), 10. Dunamis Lui, 11. Hudson Young, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Ryan Sutton. Interchange: 14. Siliva Havili, 15. Bailey Simonsson, 16. Sia Soliola, 17. Corey Horsburgh. Reserves: 18. Aidan Sezer, 19. Emre Guler, 20. Royce Hunt, 21. Jack Murchie.

Roosters squad: 1. James Tedesco, 2. Daniel Tupou, 3. Latrell Mitchell, 4. Joseph Manu, 5. Matt Ikuvalu, 6. Luke Keary, 7. Cooper Cronk, 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 9. Victor Radley, 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho, 11. Boyd Cordner (c), 12. Angus Crichton, 13. Isaac Liu. Interchange: 14. Nat Butcher, 15. Zane Tetevano, 16. Sitili Tupouniua, 17. Mitchell Aubusson. Reserves: 18. Lindsay Collins, 19. Josh Curran, 20. Lachlan Lam, 21. Sam Verrills.