The New Zealand Warriors' game against the Melbourne Storm this week will be relocated due to a surge in the COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria.
The Storm have confirmed Friday's game has been forced to move from its regular base at AAMI Park to Sydney's Jubilee Stadium, after a spike in coronavirus cases throughout the state.
On Sunday, an AFL game in Melbourne was indefinitely postponed, after Essendon defender Conor McKenna tested positive for the virus.
Storm chief executive Dave Donaghy says the club made the decision in consultation with the NRL's Project Apollo group, with player and staff welfare their main priority.
"While our members and fans can’t yet come to AAMI Park to watch us play, it is still our home ground and any decision to move matches away from it needs careful consideration,” Donaghy says.
"The fact that we have some COVID-19 hotspots in Victoria has made it difficult for our team and visiting teams to continue playing at AAMI Park in the short-term.
"We will continue to work with the NRL and our government partners on the scheduling of future matches."
According to Fox Sports, the NRL may look to keep the Storm temporarily in NSW, after a warning from NSW Health over travel to Victoria.
On Saturday, the Storm played at Western Sydney's Campbelltown Stadium, where they lost 21-14 to the Penrith Panthers.
Remaining in Sydney to play the Storm would likely suit the Warriors, who are currently based in Gosford, a northern NSW town one-hour's drive away.
Neverthless, it's further disruption to what has already been a tumultuous few days, after coach Stephen Kearney was sacked in the wake of their heavy loss to the Rabbitohs on Friday.
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