Canberra officials are raging at the Queensland government after being forced to change plans

Canberra fear they are being set up to fail after the Queensland government refused to let them fly to Brisbane early and prepare at a hotel.

Don Furner, left, and Ricky Stuart believe they are being set up to fail

Canberra have been forced to hastily rearrange their plans for Friday night’s grand final qualifier against Melbourne after the Queensland government refused their bid to prepare in a hotel on the morning of the game.

The Raiders, via the NRL, raised the issue with the Queensland government three weeks ago. They have been patiently waiting for a response and it finally arrived late on Wednesday, much to the dismay of chief executive Don Furner and coach Ricky Stuart.

The Raiders will now be forced to fly into Brisbane only hours before kick-off and head straight to the game.

“Bitterly disappointed,” Furner said. “The bureaucrats clearly have their feet up on a desk. They clearly couldn‘t be bothered with it. They’re clearly setting us up to fail.

“It‘s a standard request. We have done it before and we have proven as a game that we can follow protocols.

“The fact is the NRL requested it three weeks ago and only received a response yesterday.”

Stuart added: “The NRL have been trying to get in communication with the Queensland government for the past three weeks to get this arranged and ticked off.

“The Queensland government got back in touch with them at 3pm yesterday afternoon. So it hasn’t eventuated. Typical of the Queensland government at the moment.

“It won’t affect us. It is another punch in the head we have copped in the week leading up to a game.”