''We're the only the team that has Canberra in the name. Our players live here rather than can't wait to get out of here,'' he said.

The Government is renegotiating performance agreements with the Raiders and the Brumbies. Each team receives a $250,000 payroll tax concession and each want the concession increased.

Under the current agreements, the Brumbies receive $1million annually and the Raiders $1.5million including the payroll tax concessions. The Brumbies' concession was extended to $500,000 for 2008-09 as part of the $720,000 bail-out by the Government due to a sponsor company going into administration.

The difference in funding is due to the number of games played in Canberra the Brumbies play six home games, the Raiders 12.

A spokesman for Sports Minister Andrew Barr said it was hoped the new agreements would take effect from January 1, 2010 and the contracts would be made public.

''The Government has made no formal offer to extend the payroll tax concession at this stage, but the issue of extended payroll tax has been discussed,'' he said.

The Government gives AFL teams Western Bulldogs and Melbourne Demons $310,000 for each home game they play in Canberra under a four-game-a-year deal. Mr Furner said on a per game basis, the Raiders still received less than the Brumbies or visiting AFL teams which he found ''unpalatable''.

''I don't care what code it is, the team that it is in the town and lives there 365 days a year and its players live here and buy houses here are always worth a lot more to a city than a team who flies in and out or is only here for six or seven months, and I find that's what we're up against,'' he said.

Brumbies chief executive Andrew Fagan said it was ridiculous to suggest his team was not a year-round operation, even more so from 2011 when an extended season would see the players in training and playing from October to August.

''An increasing number of players who might be from Sydney or Brisbane are maintaining homes in Canberra and using that as their base, even though they might be with the Wallabies and travelling around the world. Their wives and partners are remaining here in Canberra and continuing in employment. If anything, we're bringing people from outside into Canberra to live so it's a positive economic benefit for the city.''