A key figure in bringing Melbourne Storm to Albury to recommence preparations for the National Rugby League season believes the club should consider coming back.
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The Storm announced late on Monday its Friday night match against the New Zealand Warriors was being transferred from its homeground, AAMI Park, to Sydney due to escalating fears of a second wave of coronavirus in Melbourne
ARL Commission chairman Peter V'landys confirmed the club could be forced to leave Melbourne for an extended period to ensure the season is not forced to shutdown.
"We've based every decision on risk analysis, and the risk is too high to leave them in Melbourne," V'landys told Channel Nine.
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He said he was watching the latest developments closely and hoped Albury would roll out the welcome mat again as a training base for Storm.
"The set of circumstances which brought the Storm to Albury the first time appear to be identical," he said.
"I can see no reason why the players and coaching staff wouldn't be happy to base themselves here given their positive experience.
"The option to fly in and out of Sydney from Albury would be very attractive to the bean counters at the NRL.
"It would be a lot cheaper and players, coaches and staff would be also closer to their families back in Melbourne."
"My earlier opposition was based on the message that council would be sending in allowing them to use council facilities," he said.
"If they are going to use the Albury Sportsground again that is entirely a matter for Albury Tigers and not council.
"But the public health order in NSW has been significantly relaxed since the Storm was last in Albury.
"I am sure they would maintain the same high level of protection control procedures if they came back.
"What I was worried about was people congregating and watching them train."
A Melbourne Storm official said the chances of the club coming back to Albury was remote.
