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Queanbeyan City Council wants to bring the Canberra Raiders back to their spiritual home, with mayor Tim Overall predicting they would get a "massive" crowd at Seiffert Oval for a Monday night game. The QCC will have discussions with the NRL about what further upgrades would be required to Seiffert Oval to host a premiership game as early as next year. The Raiders were encouraged by the strong support from the Queanbeyan community at this year's trial game, but are conscious the business plan must stack up before it goes ahead. A sold-out crowd of more than 16,000 fans packed into Belmore to see the Canterbury Bulldogs beat the Melbourne Storm earlier this week. Overall said after the success of this year's trial game between the Raiders and Newcastle that getting a premiership fixture was the council's next priority. "I'm sure we would get a massive crowd there on a Monday night," he said. "Seiffert Oval could comfortably accommodate 15,000 and up to 18,000 with a bit of a squeeze. "Council has agreed at its last meeting that we formally approach the NRL to ascertain what further improvements may be necessary at Seiffert to host a premiership game in a similar fashion to what happened at Belmore." Seiffert Oval was the home of the Raiders for the club's first eight seasons in the NSWRL from 1982 to 1989, before it moved to Canberra Stadium. The QCC, the NSW government, the federal government and the Queanbeyan Leagues Club contributed to a $1.1 million upgrade of Seiffert Oval late last year. That enabled the ground to host the Raiders' trial game against the Knights in February, which attracted a crowd of 7000. A Raiders spokesman said the club would be interested in hearing what the QCC would propose after the success of the trial game. "The Raiders were really encouraged by the turnout they had at the Seiffert trial and the enthusiasm from the Queanbeyan community," a spokesman said. "We would entertain a business plan if they were to put it forward." A sticking point is the fact the Raiders are locked into an agreement with the ACT government to play all 12 regular-season games at Canberra Stadium. The Raiders would also need to be compensated for the lack of corporate facilities at Seiffert Oval. The upgrades to Seiffert Oval included new seating in a refurbished grandstand, and a new scoreboard, playing surface and irrigation. Overall said there was $300,000 of the $1.1 million budget left to be spent on further upgrades, which would be done at the end of the Canberra Region Rugby League season. "Our staff are looking at upgrading the lights," Overall said. "Whether it's additional floodlights on the existing poles or whether we need an additional pole or two depends on the capital required."

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