The NRL website reported the NRL's innovations committee and the ARL Commission both met on Thursday to discuss rescheduling the season. A phone hook-up was then held with representatives from each of the 16 clubs.

In its statement, the NRL said it would continue to work with governments in Queensland, Victoria and New Zealand about what restrictions may look like at the end of May.

ARL Commissioner Wayne Pearce, who is heading up the innovations committee, said: "I'm pleased to announce we're planning a competition start on May 28.

"There's a lot of people that will be happy with the decision to get the competition running again.

"The details on the competition structure we haven't got yet because the landscape is changing around government boundaries. That will feed into the complexity structure.

"Today what we landed on was a starting date.

"We haven't finalised what that [competition] looks like yet. Why we want to firm up a date is to give certainty to players and their schedules, clubs and thousands of people who are out of work through clubs and millions of fans."

The innovations committee members also include Roosters coach Trent Robinson, Raiders CEO Don Furner, RLPA CEO Clint Newton, former NSW Deputy Premier Troy Grant and the NRL's chief commercial officer Andrew Abdo, chief corporate affairs officer Liz Deegan and head of football Graham Annesley.

ARL chairman Peter V'landys said their goal was "to give as much certainty as we can in uncertain times".

"There is clear evidence the curve is flattening. The NSW Government has done a great job in reducing the infection rate from 22.27% when we suspended the competition to 1.43% today," V'Landys said.

"The situation is changing dramatically and we need to get moving. It is in the best interests of our clubs, our players, our stakeholders and importantly our fans that the competition resumes as quickly and as safely as possible.

"We have said right from the start that what we say today may need to change tomorrow. We will be flexible, and if the trend changes or if government restrictions change then so will we. The health and safety of our players and the general public remains the absolute priority."

Pearce said it was impossible to predict the future with any great certainty.

"Because we're talking about seven weeks away the landscape is changing significantly," Pearce said.

"It was only a few days ago it was looking like we were having to go into an isolation bubble scenario with the support of a state government who are doing a fantastic job."

Pearce said the draw for the rest of the season would not be split into conferences.

"We're leaning towards a competition structure that looks more aligned with what we've currently got. We're not going to the conference scenario at the moment," he said.

"We've currently got support from the NSW government in terms of if we adhere to public health guidelines and make sure our players follow those guidelines we are able to train and play provided we have strict measures around testing the players and put other protocols in place to minimise the risk of infection within the playing group and community.

"What's really important for us is the welfare issue. We're working with respective governments - NZ, Victorian and Queensland - for teams that have to travel. The welfare issue of players being away from families is a significant factor we need to address."

He said the players had been involved in the entire process via RLPA boss Clint Newton.

Pearce said government regulations and a number of other issue would determine when the season finishes.