It might end up being a case of getting things right second-time around, with no embarrassing hiccups.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
When the announcement was made a few months ago that the Melbourne Storm was going to train in Albury, the reaction was overwhelmingly positive.
The club itself had already put in place a comprehensive set of procedures to both keep their players safe and the residents of Albury safe as well.
IN OTHER NEWS:
Preventing even one transmission of COVID-19 was absolutely crucial, but it certainly appeared to have been done the right way.
But Albury Council stepped in and had its say and in a decision that reverberated across the nation, said "no".
It was a decision more based on the principle of everyone being in the same boat on wearing the social isolation restrictions than any genuine belief that the Storm's presence would create a virus breakout.
In the end, of course, the council's decision was usurped by the Albury Football Club offering use of the Albury Sportsground for training.
The sessions went well, even if this was for the briefest of spells, but by then the public relations damage had apparently been done.
What other big-name sport or event, many asked, would want to visit the Border in the future if the welcome mat could so easily be slipped out from under their feet at the most inopportune time?
Nevertheless, the council's argument - despite the knee-jerk reaction from other parts of Australia - had much validity.
And that is, when people were losing their jobs, their livelihoods and their connections, why should a group of elite sportsmen be treated any differently to the rest of us?
There was commonsense on both sides of the argument, one that serves to illustrate the uncertainty of knowing exactly what we need to do about something like the COVID-19 pandemic when none of us have experienced anything like this before.
The opportunity though to welcome back Melbourne Storm should be seen as the right step.
The club showed last time it took its strict isolation approach seriously and the twin cities showed it also has the ability to make hosting the club a success.
