Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy has confirmed Albury-Wodonga and Yarrawonga-Mulwala are still under consideration for a short-term training base in the lead-up to the National Rugby League season resumption on May 28.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
NRL clubs have been informed they can re-start training on May 4, but the Storm's ability to use its home base of AAMI Park in Melbourne is presently blocked due to state of emergency provisions in place until at least May 11.
There has been no guarantee to date Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews will cease the state of emergency to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the state.
Storm officials have been assessing options in both border locations even though their preference is to stay in Melbourne.
IN OTHER NEWS
Albury Council has previously publicly nominated Greenfield Park as the venue Storm could consider using for training and Yarrawonga-Mulwala Golf Resort president Gil Cunningham confirmed Storm officials had been in the area assessing the club's suitability.
Bellamy told the ABC's Offsiders program all options were on the table.
"We're a team in Victoria where the restrictions seem to be a little bit stronger than they are in NSW," he said.
"We're looking to go up to the border whether it be one week, two weeks or three weeks, leading into the competition and actually training in NSW.
"Albury and Yarrawonga have been the main places, but there are a lot of different things that go with it.
"Obviously we would like to be islolated from the community as well, we would like to go to training and go to the gym without meeting up with people in the community.
"We want to keep them safe and us safe.
"We could do that in one of those towns, but in the other one we probably can't.
"We've got to get gym gear up there and have a ground to train on."
Albury Council, which owns Greenfield Park, said on Monday there was no update.
The Border Mail understands a decision on a potential short-term move to a border base will be made in the next 48 hours.
