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Melbourne captain Jesse Bromwich says it feels like "deja vu" to be spending time in camp on the Sunshine Coast on short notice while Victoria is in lockdown.
It's the groundhog day of a season that Melbourne's NRL players are hoping they don't have to relive again.
Storm captain Jesse Bromwich says being in camp on the Sunshine Coast while Victoria's COVID-19 lockdown was extended for a further week on Wednesday feels like a case of "deja vu".
The four months spent at the Twin Waters resort in NRL bubble conditions in Queensland last year was the bonding experience that brought another premiership to Melbourne.
However, Bromwich fears it won't have the same effect in 2021.
"At the moment the feeling is deja vu," Bromwich said.
"We were told last year we were only going to be going away for a week or two in Sydney and then we ended up being away for four months.
"Last year we handled it really well, I feel this year might be a little bit tough, it's a bigger ask to ask the boys to move away again.
"Our best bet is to take it week by week.
"If you start looking further ahead you might not be able to do it... but at the moment everyone is in good spirits."
The squad has been based in Queensland since May 14 and players were told the club was eyeing off a return to Melbourne after their round 14 match against the Warriors.
Their next home game is scheduled for June 19 against Wests Tigers but that game is now in some doubt with Melbourne's lockdown scheduled to be lifted on June 10.
Relocating that game would give the Storm three more weeks away from Victoria with their following home game scheduled for July 17, with one game in Sydney and a bye in between.
Some players are with families in camp, while others, like Bromwich, are without their partner and kids.
The possibility of a spending a season in Queensland has not yet been raised with the Storm group and the NRL believes those conversations are still premature.
"We're not thinking long term, we're trying to take it week by week," Bromwich said.
"We haven't had the conversation of if we're going to be here all season yet, but it's not looking too good down there at the moment."
Meanwhile, the Storm copped a blow on Tuesday night with Nicho Hynes announcing to the team he is joining Cronulla from next season.
"It's disappointing to see him go but I'm happy that he'll be able to go and fulfil his dreams, hopefully reach his potential and have a really long NRL career," Bromwich said.
"We would have loved to have kept him and he wanted to stay but he has to take his opportunities."