KICKOFF: Isolation promises be character revealing for sidelined NRL players

In contemporary parlance it's usually described as "controlling the controllables." Inevitably, their efforts to do just that are bullish. In the real world it might earn them a reputation for stubborness or pig-headedness.

In the NRL world, where every man and his dog has an opinion on how it should be, it's essential. As Wayne Bennett has always been quick to point out, if you start listening to them, it won't be long before you're sitting next to them.

Head coaches might loosen the reins through preseason, "let the boys hear some different voices" and all the rest. Once the season starts, the iron fist is clenched.

It's why there are currently 16 men going absolutely stir crazy - more than the rest of us - wondering how their players are spending their time in isolation.

The anxiety is understandable. Despite claims to the contrary, the environment in which NRL players spend the bulk of their time is not one that fosters self-sufficiency; in fact it's quite the opposite.

Players typically wander into preseason in November and have their every waking minute scheduled and accounted for, overseen by the coach.

Where attitudes, and often waistlines, have slipped in the six or so weeks they've been out of the barracks, there's time to tighten it up again before the season does eventually get underway. Lots of it.

Now, players are spending a comparable amount of time away as they would in the off-season, but the consequences of lapses in attitudes and disciplines are far more dire, certainly less retrievable.

Some players do well when left to their own devices, others not so much. For some, supervision is absolutely essential. It's what makes the looming return of the season interesting.

Dragons coach Paul McGregor told Kickoff it could well prove character revealing as far individuals are concerned.

"Through preseason you know what everyone's doing but right now you don't because no one's doing anything as a group," McGregor said.

"It's an unknown and it really comes back down to how a player prepares away from supervised sessions. It becomes about the choices and behaviours the player makes around the accountability and self discipline because nothing's supervised.

"It's just about being honest and having the integrity to do as you say you would do and that comes back to individuals. We've got an experienced side and guys that always keep themselves in good shape, fitness has never been a problem for us.

"I'd like to think that when we come back they're all doing the right things because the choices they make when they're training unsupervised will determine the shape we'll be in and how much work we can get done quicker."

That challenge will be mental as much as physical, coaches will be leaning on their leaders more than ever before.

Many have said that the 2020 season and the premiers crowned at the end of it will always have an asterisk next to it, but it doesn't devalue it by any stretch.

READ MORE: McGregor makes conference all ahead of resumption

To manage what are unprecedented challenges for the game, reach the finals and ultimately emerge premiers will arguably be tougher than doing so in a conventional season.

As McGregor admits, we won't really know to what degree the disruption has caused each team and until the ball's already rolling again. The stoppage clearly works against every team, success will depend on which can make it work for them.

"It'll be different. Every team will be affected in some way and teams who can limit those impacts will be the biggest beneficiaries," McGregor said.

"It's about staying optimistic and staying mentally and physically healthy through these challenging times and looking for positives in challenging times.

"When you've had the same routines every day for five years it can present different challenges. I've spoken to the guys about resetting our expectations and getting a new routine, I'm no different.

"Tactics will be a little bit different going into a shortened season with minimal time to get ready. It could benefit us but you just don't know, until you get going again, which teams have been more affected more than others."

It's an unknown, but as far as the tangibles go, there are factors that could work in the Dragons favour. Arresting an 0-2 start, the dent it puts in confidence and all the rest, can be hard to do on the run.

Pressing pause could help, though it's fair to ask what a six weeks of guys training alone will do when they had four months to get it right and still dropped their first two games.

A rejigged draw could definitely be a silver lining. Prior to the stoppage, the Dragons were looking at Canberra on the road then the Eels, Rabbitohs, Roosters and Storm by the end of round eight. If that changes in a shortened season it will be a bonus.

Perhaps the biggest factor is the way the postponement has brought them time on the injury front. They'll now play just two games without skipper Cam McInnes when they were initially looking at up to 10.

Korbin Sims will also be back from a broken arm by the time the season recommences, Mikaele Ravalawa as well after his absence forced McGregor to abandon long-held plans for Zac Lomax at fullback.

"That's a big factor for us, we'll have close enough to a full squad to choose from," McGregor said.

"We had six players out of the 30 in round one and five out of the 30 in round two. It looks like we'll have everyone available besides Jack [de Belin] if everyone stays healthy.

"Someone like Cam's the biggest in for any team, he's your captain, the best defensive hooker in the competition so he tidies up the middle third for you and he's an 80-minute player.

"You've got one of the better players in his position being available for you as well as being a leader. That's everything in a team."

From 0-2 the climb will be a steep one, but the Dragons are faced with the same challenge as every other club - to let the madness work against you, or make it work for you.