New NRL draw points to Storm playing games at AAMI Park
Melbourne Storm could be first among the football codes to run on to the paddock in Victoria for competitive points now that AAMI Park is back in the mix as a surprise venue in the NRL’s season return.
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Melbourne Storm could get first crack among the football codes at playing in Victoria as AAMI Park looms as a surprise venue for the opening two matches of the revamped NRL season.
As recently as Thursday, Storm players and staff were preparing for a long stretch of fly-in, fly-out trips to Sydney when matches resume on May 28, two weeks before the AFL’s scheduled June 11 restart.
But the fixture released on Friday handed Storm two night matches — against Canberra on May 30 and South Sydney on Friday, June 5, the latter with a 7.55pm start.
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The obvious issue with being able to fly out of Sydney before the 11pm curfew has raised the prospect both games could be in Melbourne, at venues to be confirmed.
Storm has approval from the Victorian government to play games at AAMI Park, and NRL chairman Peter V’landys said this week he saw “no issue” playing in Melbourne.
“As far as I know that is the case, that there will be games in Melbourne. That’s the case in Queensland, and that’s the case in NSW,” V’Landys said.
The Brisbane Broncos and North Queensland Cowboys are also expected to play home games when the season resumes.
It’s understood all venues for the two rounds of games will be locked in early next week, pending talks between the NRL, broadcasters and government.
With the restart date locked in, Storm officials are turning their attention to how to cater for those players in their squad who miss selection.
No second-tier competitions will be operating.
Storm has a squad of 32, but only 17 play seniors each week.
Football manager Frank Ponissi said it was a priority to find games for those who missed out.
A solution was important on a number of levels, including the mental wellbeing of players who could only train, given the onerous restrictions on them when away from the club.
“It’s a high priority because you have to keep your players game-fit, to be ready to come into the NRL team through injuries or suspensions,” Ponissi said yesterday.
“And for their own mental wellbeing, too, just training and training day in and day out with restrictions on their lives.
“We don’t think that’s very healthy for them mentally.
Ponissi said planning was affected by the inability to bring in players from outside for scratch matches.
“We have discussed trying to get them games. They won’t be regular games, they won’t be weekly, they probably won’t be full-sized, it might even be nines,” he said.
“There’s a lot of work to do.
“It is our intention to do something, but it’s easier said than done.”
russell.gould@news.com.au
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Originally published as New NRL draw points to Storm playing games at AAMI Park