In a major coup for local rugby league fans, the Melbourne Storm and Newcastle Knights will play their one and only trial match at Albury Sports Ground next weekend.

After the Newcastle Knights deemed the travel risk too high under the current COVID environment to travel to Melbourne, Albury will become the beneficiary of the reschedule.

Storm CEO Justin Rodski says while it’s disappointing for their members and fans in Melbourne, it’s an opportunity to say thanks to the Albury community.

“It’s important that our players get the chance to prepare as best they can for the season ahead which is why we will travel to Albury for the trial,” Justin explained on melbournestorm.com.au

“The change also gives us the opportunity to say thanks to the people of Albury after they supported us through the early part of the 2020 season. We hope as many fans as possible can make it to the game and support us once again.”

Albury rugby league stalwart Mike Eden told Kylie and Kev the appearance of a top level trial game is just what local fans have been craving.

“Last season local football, all codes didn’t play at all, and it really affected the rugby league community,” Mike said.

“The way to promote and grow our game is get the super-stars and current players into town and talking to the kids. Watching a game at Albury Sportsground and to see top class players is going to be fantastic for the game and fantastic for the kids to be able to see their heroes play and listen to them afterwards.”

Mike Eden concedes playing the match at Albury Sports Ground rather than the newly renovated Albury City Council owned Lavington Sports Ground is probably related to a vote by council not to allow Melbourne Storm to use council owned facilities last year over COVID fears.

“We’re going to have to work hard to overcome that chip on the shoulder that obviously the Storm have got in relation to the council,” Mike said.

“We want to really work hard to ensure that bad taste they’ve obviously got in their mouth is removed quickly and we can use that fantastic facility at Lavington in the future for the Storm and other NRL teams and get them here on a regular basis. There’s a lot of hard work to be done.”