NRL coaches Trent Robinson, Wayne Bennett, Ivan Cleary and Adam O'Brien have detailed the steps their clubs have taken to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
As the issue evolved at a rapid pace on Friday, three of the competition's most revered mentors and a rookie coach explained what had been going on in clubland.
Robinson said health scares like the one the world is facing forced everyone to consider what is truly important.
"We love rugby league and this is my life but when you think about how it is affecting our families and it is affecting people across the world ... we have to respect that," Robinson said.
"I know COAG [Council of Australian Governments] are meeting ... whatever decision they come to and then the NRL comes to then we will do it. I think all of it will be around containment and stopping the spread and in particular protecting our elderly."
Bennett said his players would be able to adjust if all matches are forced to be played behind closed doors.
"I don't think we need to play in front of crowds. We train pretty hard and we never get a crowd at training," he said.
"I know players well enough to know they are all competitive. If you tell them that no one is going to be there but it is going to be televised live throughout Australia then they will do their job.
When you think about how it is affecting our families and it is affecting people across the world ... we have to respect that
Roosters coach Trent Robinson
"Crowds are important and they create atmosphere and all of that but it is a difficult time at the moment so if the decision is made to play without crowds then at home you’d still get the footy and I’m sure Channel Nine and Fox won't lose any viewers over it."
Robinson shared Bennett's view on the prospect of playing in empty stadiums.
"We love playing so there is no problem with us playing without a crowd. You love playing with your mates so it goes back to the basics of footy and why you play so if it comes to that we will do that.
"If that is the directive then we are fine with that. If that is the best thing for heatlh in NSW, Australian and we can continue to offer entertainment for people at home … we have already talked about it and the players are ready for either scenario."
Cleary said it would be an unusual situation for his players if they were forced to play in an empty stadium against the Roosters on Saturday night.
"It is not something you would expect but I guess we train like that every day and if that is the case that is how it's got to be," Cleary said.
"It has just been an hour-by-hour situation the past few days. I guess we are no different to anyone else.
"We are just preparing to do what we can do, and that is play footy. As long as the game is still on that is what we are preparing for and that is all we can focus on."
O'Brien, who is scheduled to make his NRL coaching debut against the Warriors at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday, praised the game's governing body for the way the issue has been handled.
"Look, it wasn't in the manual, but the NRL have been really transparent and they're in constant dialogue with the clubs," O'Brien told the media before the team trained in Newcastle on Friday.
"I know our club is very proactive in the measures it's taking to limit any potential infection within the group.
"I understand there's some measures to be taken in terms of fan interaction, and that's unfortunate in the community that we live in.
"It's really important that we do connect with our community, but unfortunately, at the same time, we need to respect the situation that we're in."
