NRL players returned to training on Monday as part of the game's push for a May 28 restart, while the NSW Rugby League has penciled in July 18 as a return date for is grassroots competitions as governments begin a gradual scaling back of social distancing measures.

It opens the door for an extended season to possibly run into October, though clubs remain divided over whether any competition should go ahead - even if health authorities permit it - as key sponsors face longer-term financial difficulties as a result of the pandemic.

The Dogs are reigning champions in first and reserve grade but longtime official Bruce Prior says the risks to the health and long-term financial viability of clubs should see the competition placed on hiatus for 2020.

"We're definitely not in favour of kicking off. We've made that clear to league and our position hasn't changed," Prior said.

"Our main priority is the safety of our players and our off-field staff. You look at what the NRL's had to go through to actually get the game up and running... we can't do that in our competition.

"Players are all working in different work places. If we come together and play and someone contracts that virus they can shut whole work places down. It just impacts too many other people.

"Then you consider the fact that, even if we go back on the first of July, that'll be three months since the clubs have trained as a unit. At maximum they're going to get four training sessions in and be expected to go and play first grade football [From July 18].

"When you're putting people at risk for a game of football when we're not equipped to deal with this sort of thing, it just doesn't make sense."

The IDRL will consider a draft proposal for what a modified season could look like at board meeting on Thursday but will consider the view of all its clubs before making a final determination.

Prior said the financial strain of getting a side on the park amid a drastic reduction in sponsorship dollars could put the future of clubs beyond 2020 at risk.

"I'll think you'll impact greatly on next year's competition," Prior said.

"It's going to be worse next year because the club and pub industry is on its knees. They can't be giving money to football teams and you can't ask them to out businesses at risk.

"Players aren't going to play for nothing and we shouldn't ask them to. It doesn't make sense for the sake of a single season when we can work towards coming back bigger and better next year."

It's understood Collegians aren't outliers in their view, with a number of clubs sharing their concerns in regards to player welfare and financial implications.

It does put the club at odds with grand final rivals Wests, who are vehemently for a competition getting underway, while others are reserving judgement until they get a better idea of the proposed schedule.

Helensburgh are one club in that boat, with president Dave Bell saying the Tigers are cautiously optimistic about some sort of season being played out.

"We've taken the approach that we want to play footy, but the major determining factor is how is how it takes shape and what sort of format it's played under," Bell said.

"The Illawarra League's done a good job to make sure all clubs stay viable and that's going to have to be looked at. I think over the last couple of years the implementation of the salary cap and those sorts of things have ensured we haven't lost a couple of teams.

"The decisions they've made over the last little period of time have been pretty good so I don't think they'll make a call that will jeopardise the future of any teams.

"We want to play, I think it'd be good for our community, but we don't see any benefit of pushing it one way or another. If the league can reach a determination on a [start] date and structure we'll have a better idea."

A cap on player payments or a strictly amateur competition has been couched as possible solutions to mitigate the financial impacts being felt by clubs.

The Tigers are not reliant on leagues club cash but Bell said the clubs viability will rest on the relaxation of public health orders that would allow game-day revenue to flow.

"Financially we feel we're all right to proceed at the moment, but a lot depends on the social distancing rules and regulations to be relaxed," Bell said.

"If we can't sell beers and have our gate and all the rest it might be a bit harder for us. If player payments are reduced or we go to amateur status, we'd be in a decent position.

"We'd probably rather go down that path than not play at all. Moving forward we'd be confident in getting a couple of sides together, we were pretty well situated before this pandemic."

Corrimal president Dave Adams says the Cougars will also consider the the final proposal but, with game day revenue a major part of its viability, would also need to consider the future beyond 2020.

"For a club like ours one of your biggest money earners is your game day and you still have to outlay your biggest expenditure which paying the players," Adams said.

"We'd love to play and we're financially sound enough to be able to play this year, what will that do to us next year is the question. If we play the best part of a normal season with normal wages and it impacts us all next year we'd be silly.

"At the end of the day, until you put it back to the clubs and know what they want to do you don't know but we'll make our decision one we see what the proposal is."