Tensions between the Broncos and Raiders have bubbled over in a situation labelled ‘bus-gate’ — sparking Brisbane coach Michael Maguire to hit back at his opponents.
Ahead of the Canberra and Brisbane’s final this weekend, chief executive Dave Donaghy contacted the NRL with concerns regarding where his squad will be parked.
According to Code Sports, Donaghy raised his concerns to NRL boss Andrew Abdo after Brisbane’s team bus was made to park outside GIO Stadium during the club’s Round 2 clash.
The tensions began when the Broncos were forced to park outside of the front gates and walk around 75 metres to the dressing rooms inside the Raiders’ home ground.
Visiting teams have been forced to park outside the ground this season due to a new approach from the Raiders, which has seen players meet at the centre of excellence for lunch.
After a team meeting, Canberra players then travel to their home games by bus, with only one VIP spot available for busses to park inside the ground.
As the Broncos bus parked outside the ground, Maguire was reportedly left angered which sparked Donaghy to contract NRL officials.
The Broncos were reportedly concerned for the safety of a host of star players with high profiles, including Reece Walsh and Pat Carrigan.
However, Maguire has since set the record straight, claiming his team had no concerns with the walk to the ground from their team bus.
“I don’t give a rats,” he said.
“Maybe I should jump in the driver’s seat and drive our bus to the game this week. I don’t know what they are whingeing about to be honest.
“I’ve been going to Canberra games for years on a team bus and I’ve never cared once where they put us.
“Someone must be leaking something and they want to link it to me.
“I didn’t think anything of it at the time. I loved it. The fans are what the game is about and we love walking past the fans and engaging with them, it wasn’t even a 100-metre walk to the ground (from where the Broncos bus was parked).
“I find it comical to be honest.”
Raiders bosses received a call from an NRL ground manager the following day and were left bemused, dubbing the situation ‘bus-gate’.
The next step was for an NRL Integrity Unit officer to meet with the GIO Stadium manager, with the NRL official calling for a stadium risk assessment.
Shark Park, Belmore Sports Ground, Campbelltown Stadium and Leichhardt Oval also utilise public entry points for players to walk into.
However, the Broncos have reportedly been informed they are free to park their bus inside the stadium on Sunday for their heavily-anticipated finals clash.
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