The big money wants to get back into the game at any cost, bullying councils etc.
Plans by NRL powerhouse Melbourne Storm to move its training base to Albury have suffered a setback with the local council voting to oppose the team's relocation.
Key points:
The New South Wales Government had given the team permission to relocate and escape Victoria's pandemic restrictions
The councillors voted against the plan, angry they had not been consulted
The Melbourne-based NRL team is going ahead with its plans and will train at the Albury Sports Ground
But the club said it would go ahead with its plans after securing the use of the Albury Tigers' home ground.
At an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday night, the Albury City Council voted to formally oppose hosting the Victorian team.
The New South Wales Government had given the team permission to relocate to the border city to escape Victoria's pandemic restrictions.
But Albury councillors are angry they were not consulted and want to prevent the team using council facilities.
Councillor Alice Glachan said there could not be one rule for an NRL team and another for the community.
"Regretfully I cannot support them being able to come and do things that our normal members of our community are unable to do at this present time," she said.
The team was due to start training at Albury's Greenfield Park from Wednesday after being given clearance by the State Government.
The decision will prevent the team from training at any council-managed facilities.
However, it does not stop Melbourne Storm from using any private gyms and ovals.
Instead, the team will train at the Albury Sports Ground after uncertainty over the availability of the city's rugby league ground forced the club to look for alternatives.
"We're looking forward to a very good week of training in Albury as we get 2020 back on track," said Storm CEO Dave Donaghy.
"The initial camp from today [Tuesday] through to the weekend will inject tens of thousands of dollars back into the local economy.
"We're using the services of a range of local facilities, including our motel, which will gain 200 extra bed nights at a very difficult time."
www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-05/nrl-club ... e/12214458
