The Raiders have been slapped with a $150,000 fine for shifting a home game to Wagga Wagga in a breach of a deal with the ACT government that demands them to play all home matches in Canberra.
The contract includes a financial penalty if matches are moved away from GIO Stadium, reports The Canberra Times.
Canberra were scheduled to play Penrith in round 8, hoping to bring the NRL action to their regional fans.
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NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro is furious at the decision to impose a fine after the government committed $4 million towards the Raiders’ new $19 million base at Braddon.
"The ACT isn't an island. The Raiders are the NRL team for thousands of fans in Southern NSW. Many of the Raiders' greatest players are sons of regional NSW," Barilaro said.
"If this is how the ACT government is going to treat the Raiders and their fans, then maybe it's time to start thinking about bringing the Raiders back to Seiffert Oval and the investment it would take to make that happen."
Discussions about a new stadium arrangement will take place early next year with the current deal expiring at the end of next season.
The NRL have increased their reach to regional areas with three games in 2019, with Penrith to play Melbourne in Bathurst in round 3 and St George Illawarra to host Newcastle in Mudgee in round 10.
"Our commitment to playing matches in regional locations will continue in the 2019 schedule," NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg said.
"But more than that, importantly we will have the backing of the NSW Government and Destination NSW.
"We saw some amazing scenes in some of our regional matches in 2018 and I see no reason why we won't see many more highlights in 2019."
