The Canberra Raiders have enjoyed a dream start to the 2024 season, claiming back-to-back wins against the Newcastle Knights and the Wests Tigers.
Amid this success, coach Ricky Stuart has called for urgent upgrades to the team's home stadium, labelling it as "absolutely crap".
Following the team's 20-point thrashing of the Tigers, Stuart implored the government to help refurbish GIO Stadium, citing not just the NRL team, but the entertainment scene in general which would greatly benefit.
MORE: Benji Marshall gets off to a rocky start as Tigers lose to the Raiders
Ricky Stuart blasts 's**t' situation at GIO Stadium
Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has blasted the team's current home ground, claiming that the stadium is not fit to host an NRL team.
"I feel sorry for those people there with the stench, it’s s**t. I know people laugh about it but we are the capital of Australia," Stuart said.
"The stadium administration are wonderful people, they accommodate us so well. They and Canberra deserve a new stadium.
"It’s absolutely crap they don’t build a stadium to look after Canberra’s people.
"I’m all for education and I’m all for hospitals, but we have to have some common sense. There was a concert here last week and all the buses stopped and people were left stranded.
"Honestly ... politics should learn off sport, because I believe there’s a lot of good leaders in sport."
Ricky Stuart claims 250th win as NRL head coach
Stuart's issues with GIO Stadium did not take away from his historic win, claiming his 250th victory as an NRL head coach.
After starting 14-0, the Raiders looked like they might be about to give the game away, before rallying to claim an eventual 32-12 win over the Tigers.
This win also denied new head coach Benji Marshall his first career win, as the Tigers' 2024 season got off to a start that resembled their horror 2023 campaign.
