Canterbury Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo required stitches after a glass panel shattered in his coaching box during Thursday night’s 14-10 victory over the Canberra Raiders, adding to growing concerns about the condition of Canberra Stadium. The incident occurred in the closing minutes of a hard-fought contest as Ciraldo attempted to get a better view of the action.
“The box was quite foggy, so we couldn’t see what was happening,” Ciraldo explained. “We tried to open the window, and the whole window smashed on us. There was glass all over us, and I’ll need a couple of stitches. It’s a great atmosphere, but it deserves an upgrade.”
The injury sparked a wave of criticism directed at the aging stadium, with Raiders coach Ricky Stuart joining the chorus of those calling for improvements. Stuart didn’t hold back when discussing the state of the venue, referring to it as a “shithouse stadium” and questioning whether authorities were taking its disrepair seriously.
“I’m coming to the change room and I thought it was raining in there,” Stuart said after the match. “There’s no great whingeing about it, because the people you’ve got to whinge to don’t grant a shit. The people that make decisions about our stadium don’t care about the stadium. They don’t care about the nation’s capital having the shithouse stadium that we have.”
The Bulldogs’ win, secured with a final score of 14-10, was overshadowed by the stadium issues. The incident adds further pressure on the Australian Capital Territory government to address the long-standing concerns surrounding the venue’s infrastructure.
Independent Senator David Pocock echoed the calls for action, stating the stadium is “clearly past its due date” and highlighting reports from the past 17 years that have recommended updates or a complete replacement. Pocock also pointed to the stadium’s impact on attracting major events to Canberra, noting the city missed out on hosting matches during next year’s Rugby World Cup, in part due to the facility’s condition.
ACT Sports Minister Yvette Berry acknowledged the need for ongoing maintenance but indicated that major renovations aren’t planned for another decade. “I understand everybody wants the best stadium in the ACT,” Berry said. “It continues to need maintenance and refurbishment. It’s an older facility, so that will always happen.”
