Canberra Raiders centre of excellence about to be opened

While the Raiders have already started using the gymnasium, Chief Minister Andrew Barr will open the $19 million Braddon facility on Friday.

The funding was split three ways in an historic cross-border agreement.

Barr's government chipped in $5 million, the NSW government $4 million and the Raiders coughed up the rest.

While the CoE is based in the ACT, the Raiders will use it to service rugby league across the surrounding regions in country NSW as well.

It's got everything from cryogenic chambers to physiotherapy facilities to meeting rooms to a television recording studio.

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The Raiders staff, including chief executive Don Furner, laid the turf in early January, but it's recently been top-seeded with a winter grass and they need to wait for that to establish itself before they can start training on their new field.

They'll continue to do their on-field work at Bruce, but everything else will be done at Braddon.

It's the perfect boost for the team on the eve of the 2020 NRL season as they look to go one step further than last year's runner-up finish.

Hodgson felt they wouldn't be the only ones who would be impressed by it once it opens.

"It's a fantastic joint, we're a very lucky bunch. It's got absolutely everything you need. You name it, it's got it," he said.

"We're very spoilt. Once the pictures come out of the place, I'm sure everyone will be blown away by how good it actually is."

Hodgson said there was nothing wrong with their old facilities at Bruce, but the ones at Braddon would allow the team to go to the next level.

There's already a massive buzz around the club after making last year's grand final.

Many have tipped them to end their premiership drought, which stretches back to 1994.

"As a team you want the best because you want to strive to be the best," Hodgson said.

"It's important to have great facilities and all the things you need to tick the boxes and do what you've got to do.

"We've always had everything we need and the facilities here [at Bruce] are good, there's nothing wrong with the facilities we've got here.

"It's definitely on another level. It ticks a lot of boxes, not just for us as a playing group but as a full club."