In music to the ears of Canberra Raiders fans, GIO Stadium will be eligible to host an NRL preliminary final should their team earn home ground advantage during the 2025 finals series.
As reported in The Canberra Times the NRL has confirmed the decision which could pave the way for the Raiders to play the entire finals series at home leading up to the October 5 decider in Sydney.
Canberra Raiders chief executive Don Furner was understandably delighted following the announcement.
“We could have two games here (GIO Stadium) if we get into the top two,” he said.
MORE: Raiders within reach of elusive 35-year-long achievement
“We’ve just got to get to the top two, we’ve got to get through the next six games, when injuries and all that sort of thing can happen,” Furner continued.
Playing two home finals would provide a massive boost to Ricky Stuart’s table-topping squad as it seeks to claim a first premiership since the Green Machine glory days of 1994—when Stuart was still playing himself.
So far in 2025 the Raiders have won seven from eight matches at home and are looking to make it eight from nine against the struggling Newcastle Knights in Round 21.
Canberra last made the NRL grand final in 2019, losing 14-8 to the Sydney Roosters.