YOUR SAY: Border Mail letters to the editor

One councillor declared "it is safe." The Mayor described "the rigorous bio-security placed on this team." Another huffed about "some councillors' hysteria." Another defended "the resumption of professional sport" which "will provide some real emotional support" for all of us in lockdown - except for anyone on a ventilator, perhaps.

The Border Mail editor, from the safety of his news desk, criticised local doctor Cr Amanda Cohn who has been working at the coal-face of the pandemic, ignoring the fact that she is risking her own health when he isn't. Poor form, indeed.

The Storm declared that the strict bio-security protocols and strict monitoring of the group would ensure that "there is no contact with Albury citizens. The protocols the NRL has in place are greater than any government restrictions. We are following all the rules and regulations."

A former player warned that the Albury Council's withdrawal of the Greenfield Park training option will "haunt the city for years." But, apparently, the Storm has been offered use of Albury facilities for an exhibition game for the past decade, but couldn't be bothered coming to the country.

The Albury Thunder president then laughably boasted of "an astronomical" 607 likes on their Facebook page and ordered locals to put streamers around the motel to make the team feel welcome. He obviously doesn't realise that the population of Albury alone is over 50,000.

Predictably, it all turned pear-shaped with The Border Mail front page revelation on May 9 that this strict, bio-security conscious NRL group's feet are made of clay and their promises of respecting the health and safety of the Albury community were pie in the sky.

Storm's Ryan Hoffman, in talking to people at the fence of Albury Sports Ground, breached all the assurances of no contact with Albury people.

Mike Eden went in to "volunteer" but could very easily have come out COVID-19 positive, starting an Albury cluster, which is exactly what our five responsible Albury Councillors considered before making their decision against Storm's relocation across the Border.

The problem with this group is that they are all overpaid, overindulged and over here! Go home, Storm, you can't be trusted.

If the Albury no-training councillors are right - and the federal health authorities, the Prime Minister, the authorities and experts in Queensland and NSW, the New Zealanders, the Tamworth Council and now the Victorian government are all wrong - then we can expect Melbourne to be hit with a massive cluster of COVID-19 infections by the end of the week when they resume training in Melbourne. But then just maybe the councillors are the wrong ones.

MORE LETTERS

YOUR SAY: Our decisions not based on tantrums or whims

YOUR SAY: To leash or not to leash, that is not the question

YOUR SAY: Storm ban was a disappointing decision by the council

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Michael Chammas, a sports reporter with The Sydney Morning Herald, wrote on May 11: "Albury council's stance against the Melbourne Storm last week hasn't been lost on a number of fuming clubs, who have scratched the NSW border town from their future plans The council often makes a pitch to host NRL games ... don't expect to see much NRL action in Albury over the next few years." Good one people.