NRL 2021: Melbourne Storm defy Covid panic amid outbreak

They spent most of last year outside Victoria but Melbourne have no plans to go on the road again even after the latest COVID-19 lockdown.

Coach Craig Bellamy and his Storm players are staying put in Victoria. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Melbourne Storm is staying put in Victoria despite the latest COVID-19 lockdown which threatens to have the reigning premier relocated for a second straight year.

It has been reported the NRL is considering moving Storm to New South Wales as early as Monday as Victoria endures another stage four lockdown.

Although, the club was quick to hose down the speculation on Monday morning.

“There are currently no plans for Storm to move from its home at AAMI Park in Melbourne,” the club said in a statement.

“The team has been given approval to continue training in Melbourne under the Victorian Government’s directions and, as we have done in the past, we will monitor the situation closely and plan accordingly.

“The club will continue to seek advice from the Victorian Government and the NRL to ensure we can prepare for the 2021 season in the best way possible.”

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Storm players are staying put in Melbourne despite the latest COVID-19 outbreak. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Storm won last year’s title despite spending the whole season away from home, in a premiership coach Craig Bellamy rates as second only to his 2012 title just two years after the club’s salary cap penalties.

When asked by the Herald Sun last month if he’d be prepared to spend a second season on the road if he had to, Bellamy replied:

“I think so.

“There might be some people there in our club that won’t be and I’d understand that.

“I’m certainly not going to hold it against anyone if that happened.

“I’ve thought about it a bit myself and it certainly wouldn’t be ideal but if it came again I think I could grit my teeth and get through it again.

“But you just don’t know what’s going to happen, and hopefully we play at home this season and our Melbourne fans can get along to it.”

Last year, Storm were stationed on the Sunshine Coast for the majority of the year.

Coach Craig Bellamy and his Storm players are staying put in Victoria. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

On Friday, seven Melbourne Storm players were rubbed out of the NRL All Stars fixture thanks to Queensland’s border ban.

The Maori All Stars team was decimated following the Queensland Government’s decision to introduce a ban on residents from Greater Melbourne entering the state for at least 14 days.

The All Stars game will be played next Saturday, February 20, at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville. The players were scheduled to go into camp Saturday.

The Maori team originally included Reimis Smith, Jahrome Hughes, Jesse Bromwich, Brandon Smith, Kenny Bromwich and Nelson Asofa-Solomona — all Storm players — while winger

Josh Addo-Carr was selected in the Indigenous All Stars team.

The Maori All Stars team has been decimated after a border ban was introduced into Queensland. Picture: AAP.

The NRL on Sunday named the replacements with Gold Coast’s Corey Thompson replacing Addo-Carr in the Indigenous squad.

Russell Packer (Wests Tigers), Esan Marsters, Daejarn Asi and Emry Pere (North Queensland Cowboys), Issac Luke (Brisbane) and Jackson Topine (Bulldogs) have been called up to the Maori side.

The Storm had earlier confirmed that Saturday’s trial against the Warriors — for players who featured in 12 games or less in 2020 — at Redcliffe’s Dolphin Stadium has been cancelled.

Originally published as NRL 2021: Melbourne Storm defy Covid panic amid outbreak