STORM DODGES QLD LOCKOUT
MELBOURNE Storm’s timely escape to Queensland’s Sunshine Coast has helped the NRL avoid fixturing chaos enveloping the AFL but it may face months away from home.
The decision to relocate the Storm came ahead of yesterday’s Queensland Government crackdown on sporting teams from Melbourne, where the coronavirus spike has sounded alarm bells.
It means the club is free to “host” the Sydney Roosters at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night.
While the NRL still has to sign off on the match, a Storm spokeswoman confirmed it had been given approval by the Queensland Government.
Another bonus for the Storm is its amazing record at Suncorp Stadium — it has not lost to Brisbane at the Broncos’ home since 2009.
But the Melbourne squad will likely need to settle in for a long stay in their new base at the Twin Waters resort.
Veteran forward Dale Finucane revealed the players held a meeting with NRL boss Andrew Abdo and biosecurity expert David Heslop on Sunday night and were told there was no end date for their stay in Queensland.
“Given that the numbers are increasing in Victoria it’s not looking like (we’ll be home) any time soon,” Finucane said.
“They want a period of 28 days once the virus has slowed. So if today, for whatever reason, the virus slowed, we’d be looking at 28 days. Obviously that’s probably not happening any time soon given that the rates are continuing to increase.”
While Finucane’s wife and baby son are spending time with family in NSW before heading to Queensland, about 20 partners and 30 children have already arrived — although they cannot leave the confines of the Storm “bubble” within the complex for the next fortnight.