That's the dilemma coaches face as the spread of coronavirus hits all aspects of life, including sport.

Maitland Blacks' Matt Thomas admits it's a situation he's never experienced before.

"It's really difficult," he said. "We can't even train together as a club."

It's the same in rugby league land, with the Pickers' Matt Lantry saying there has to be a level of trust in the players doing the right thing.

He too has never been faced this same challenge.

"It's feel sorry for the players, I really do, because we flogged them in training to get their fitness levels up and through it all they had a terrific attitude," he said.

"To have the rug pulled from under them at this late stage, it's hard. But I see it as a mental challenge, another hurdle the players have to overcome.

"In the end it's a matter of trust. You have to trust them to do the right thing."

As it stands now, rugby officials will next meet on May 1 to decide the best path forward.

On the league front, the season has been put from a starting date of April 18 to - most likely - May 31. But that's not certain either.

"At this stage the next time rugby officials meet is May 1, but we don't know what will happen then," Thomas said. "It might be more of the same."

For young men who have done all the hard pre-season work, it must be frustrating. So what's the approach?

"We're in regular contact with the players and we're getting them to train together in small groups ... just a couple of players," Thomas said.

"We want them to get miles into their legs so they stay fit, do some gymwork, weights and so on.

"And we've also asked all of them to post videos of their workouts as a motivation to other players and so we can keep an eye on their progress. There's a good vibe in the club and we don't want to lose that."

Whatever happens, he says teams will need a new pre-season period to work on combinations again even if it means a severely reduced season.

"I would think clubs would need three or four weeks back in training together before the season proper."

And Lantry? "We've got a shortened season and lots of competition for places. We'll test the guys as soon as they get back and anyone not up to scratch will find it tough."