Storm could spend months in Queensland

Melbourne’s NRL squad could spend months on the Sunshine Coast as coronavirus cases continue to rise in Victoria.

The league was expected to confirm that the Storm will ‘‘host’’ the Sydney Roosters at their adopted home of Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night.

The announcement will come on the same day the AFL has been forced to frantically reshuffle this week’s fixture due to new Covid-19 protocols.

Queensland health officials yesterday mandated AFL clubs based in the state to self-isolate for 14 days if they face a Melbourne-based side.

The rule also applies if Brisbane or Gold Coast played in Melbourne, or against any team that had been in the Victorian capital, for the preceding 14 days.

However, it is understood the new directive doesn’t apply to the Storm, who will host the Roosters just eight days after leaving Victoria.

A Melbourne spokesperson confirmed Thursday’s match against the Roosters has been given approval by the Queensland government.

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 yet 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 yesterday.

‘‘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.’’

A number of players have been joined by their families at Twin Waters Resort — with 20 partners and about 30 children — although they can’t leave the confines of the Storm ‘‘bubble’’ within the complex for the next fortnight.

Melbourne hammered the Warriors last round with the Storm sympathetic to the plight of the Auckland-based players who have been in Australia without their families since before the competition restart.

Finucane didn’t think his side would have the same challenges.

‘‘Their predicament is different to ours as we’ve been given exemptions for our partners because it’s within Australia,’’ he said.

‘‘And then with their coach being sacked, it adds to a bit of turmoil at their club.’’

Melbourne will play their nominated home games for the foreseeable future at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

Storm playmaker Cameron Munster underwent physio on his injured knee yesterday morning and was scheduled to have scans.