Melbourne Storm has removed a social media post of one of its staff engaging with supporters in response to concerns raised by an Albury councillor, who opposed the NRL club coming to town to train.
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Cr Darren Cameron said the video of football administration coordinator Ryan Hoffman speaking to fans outside the Albury Sportsground fence line after their Thursday training session justified his reasons for not wanting the Storm training locally.
The councillor said the fans were ignoring the COVID-19 public health order still in place in the state.
"This is exactly what I was worried about," he said.
"While the Storm players and staff might be following their own protocols, the message this sends to the community is it's OK to ignore the public health order.
"Here we have people assembled in a clear breach of the public health order.
"Watching teams train is not a reason to be out of your home."
Melbourne Storm confirmed it had removed the Twitter post and reinforced the message to fans not to come to the ground and watch players train.
The matter was also referred to police.
Storm will be returning to Albury on Monday and Tuesday to resume training irrespective of the pending announcement on Monday from Premier Daniel Andrews on the potential lifting of the state of emergency which prevents the club from training at its Melbourne base and being forced to head interstate to train.
It will take the economic impact of the Storm visit to an estimated $70,000 as they continue staying at the Siesta Resort.
Albury mayor Kevin Mack urged residents to continue to abide by the rules.
"We continue to encourage everyone in our community to continue to follow the restrictions put in place by the NSW government," he said..
"What is the public health order reason for Mike Eden being at the ground?" Cr Cameron said..
"Is he going to tell us it is part of his essential work or is he just trying to hang out and be one of the group?"
Mr Eden said he was at the ground assisting Storm complete the switch of venues.
"Albury Thunder and Albury Tigers are showing great collaboration to make sure that anything the Storm needs is being provided," he said.
"I was doing volunteer work for the community."
