• The Australian
• September 15, 2015 12:00AM
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Storm chief executive Dave Donaghy.

The Melbourne Storm yesterday found themselves at the centre of a three-way tug of war for their preliminary final after AFL’s spiritual homes Etihad Stadium and the MCG stepped up attempts to hijack the game.

Officials from Etihad and the MCG contacted the NRL offering their services. Both grounds are free because the AFL’s preliminary finals will be played in Perth.

However, despite the prospect of thousands of fans being locked out of AAMI Stadium — the Storm will play the winner of this weekend’s second semi-final between North Queensland and Cronulla — the NRL insisted it had no plans to move the match from Melbourne’s regular season home ground.

“AAMI Park is tailor-made for rugby league and the Storm have already indicated their members and fans would expect the match to be played at their year-round home ground,” an NRL spokesman said. “A potentially capacity crowd watching Melbourne in a preliminary final at AAMI Park will be a wonderful spectacle which benefits the game as well as the club.”

AAMI Park holds only 30,000, Etihad Stadium seats more than 50,000 and the MCG upwards of 100,000. Despite being the only show in town, it is highly unlikely the Storm would attract enough spectators to warrant a switch to the MCG.

However, they could realistically lure enough spectators to warrant moving the game to Etihad Stadium. Even so, Storm chief executive Dave Donaghy made it clear the club had no desire to see the game moved, meaning the MCG and Etihad are fighting a losing battle to poach the match.

“This is our home,” he said.

“Our preference is to play the game here. It is a finals game so it is an NRL-controlled event. The atmosphere we could create here would be second to none.”

The Storm’s desire to keep the game at AAMI Park is understandable given they won eight of their 12 games at home this season, including victories over Cronulla in round three and North Queensland in round 25.

Balanced against that is their finals record at the ground — they have lost two of their three finals games at AAMI Park. Regardless, they are likely to start their preliminary final as warm favourites to win and secure their seventh grand final appearance and sixth under coach Craig Bellamy.

Props Tim Glasby and Jordan McLean finished their opening finals game with knee injuries but should both be fit to play. The graver concern surrounds winger Marika Koroibete, who finished the win over the Sydney Roosters with a severe cut above the achilles tendon on his left leg.

Koroibete is still in hospital as the club ensures he doesn’t suffer an infection. Should he be ruled out, Bellamy has options in the form of Mahe Fonua or Richie Kennar, both of whom played first grade this season.

Meanwhile, the threat of a Dally M boycott appears to be fading after the Rugby League Players Association emerged from a meeting with the NRL yesterday confident the game’s governing body now took their concerns seriously.

The RLPA had raised the prospect of a Dally M boycott after being frustrated at the progress of talks with the governing body. However, RLPA general president Clint Newton emerged from talks with key powerbrokers, including NRL chief executive Dave Smith, confirming progress had been made.

“We met today with Dave Smith and it would appear the NRL now recognises the playing group has very real and serious concerns,” Newton said.

“We’ve certainly made progress and I’m optimistic we’ll be able to resolve our issues.

“This is not just for current players, it’s also to ensure we secure the best conditions and entitlements for the next generation of players.”