Storm likely to relocate to NSW

Melbourne will continue to liaise with the Victorian government to start training at home next week but relocation is likely.

Storm players Jahrome Hughes and Sandor Earl training at Gosch’s Paddock in Melbourne on Friday Picture: Ian Currie

Melbourne will continue to liaise with the Victorian government to use their home base to start NRL training next week although relocating to NSW in the short-term appears likely.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday put it back on the states to sort out when and how sport can proceed, and with Victorian premier Daniel Andrews taking a hard-line stance it doesn’t appear likely the Storm will be granted any special exemption.

Despite other states easing restrictions, Andrews says Victorian measures won’t change until May 11 when state of emergency levels will be reviewed. Melbourne Storm boss Dave Donaghy says the club is waiting on a state government briefing, which they expect over the weekend.

Monday is a designated information briefing and testing day for players so they could leave a relocation decision until as late as then.

If they don’t get permission to use their AAMI Park headquarters they will shift to the NSW border, staying and training either in Mulwala or Albury through the week and return to the Melbourne homes on weekends.

The venue depends on which best fulfils the NRL’s strict biosecurity protocols. Earlier in the day Storm football manager Frank Ponissi said all players were on board if they had to temporarily shift training.

“If we can’t train in Victoria initially we have to move to NSW,” Ponissi told ABC radio.

“The players and staff want to get back to their jobs and if that means relocating from Monday to Friday … while it’s not like living at home at least we get to come home on weekends to see our families.”

North Queensland football manager Peter Parr says he is delighted an “uncomfortable” waiting game is finally over after the NRL club was cleared to train and play on home soil this season.

Queensland’s NRL teams the Cowboys, Brisbane and the Titans have avoided relocating to NSW for the 2020 season after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk opened the state’s border ahead of the competition’s planned May 28 resumption.

It ensured Queensland clubs can remain at their home base for the season, scrapping contingency plans they had made to relocate to NSW hubs.

The Cowboys had organised to be based at Sydney’s Olympic Park while the Broncos looked set to relocate to Kingscliff and the Titans at Tweed Heads.

“It has been a little bit uncomfortable I suppose not knowing exactly where we would be,” Parr said.

“We were preparing as if we were going to go to Sydney on Monday.

“That has been a bit daunting for some people not knowing exact what would be happening but we have that clarity now.”

After ensuring NRL teams would receive quarantine exemptions, Palaszczuk hinted that the three Queensland outfits should be rewarded with home games in the first round back.

Parr was keeping his fingers crossed that the Cowboys could show off their new home ground – Queensland Country Bank Stadium – from the outset.

They had played just one game in the first round against Brisbane before the coronavirus shutdown.

“It would be nice to play at the stadium again. That would be our hope that we get a game first up,” Parr said.

“(But) we are delighted. To have the opportunity to remain in Townsville was always our preferred option.”

AAP