For a group of people that like complete control, the past six weeks have proved challenging for NRL coaches.
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Instead of precision planning, the mentors have had to sit back as the league has negotiated through the uncharted coronavirus waters.
Even now, with NRL teams having returned to training, a significant level of uncertainty still lingers.
As of Friday morning, St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor still did not know when his team will resume contact training or who they'll play when the competition restarts on May 28.
With so much up in the air, McGregor and his coaching staff have been forced to remain flexible in recent days.
"You don't want to make decisions now when the rules are changing constantly each day," McGregor said.
"Even around our schedule, we had a different session planned for tomorrow. Now we've got to revisit that and change our whole training program, because there's no contact until Monday, which is no different to any other club.
"Making decisions now on what team you'll play is not the right thing to do."
McGregor's flexibility hasn't been confined to the training schedule, with the coach also adjusting his team's playing style.
With just three weeks to prepare for their first match back against an unknown opponent, the Dragons coach said the side will simplify their structures.
"I think you've got to tinker. The scheduling's a lot different, the progression of contact is a small window and it's getting smaller. Hopefully on Monday we can do a little bit of contact.
"Certainly there's got to be a really clear focus on how you want to play early. With the limited prep, not having the 14 weeks, even though it's been in the bank a little bit because you've done the hard work before. But being away from football for five weeks and picking it up again, you really want to simplify the game.
"There will be some tweaks in our systems and structures, but you'll see a really fit, hard football team come round three."
The risk of injury remains front of mind, with many in the game cautious three weeks is not enough time to prepare the athletes for the rigours of an NRL season.
As such, the governing body is considering a number of rule changes, including an increase to the number of interchanges and the introduction of an 18th man as a concussion substitute.
While opposed to the first suggestion, McGregor supports the latter to help negate the impact of concussions.
"With the interchange, along with the other coaches, we voted that interchange stay at eight.
"I think the 18th man is a decent decision because the impact it could have on the other players and the lack of the progression of contact.
"Usually you go from getting off the ground, which we can do comfortably now, into pad work, into contact, into collision.
"With only that two-week period to do that, it makes sense to have an 18th person that could take the field if you lose someone through foul play or concussion."
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Cameron Mee
Sports reporter at the Canberra Times
Sports reporter at the Canberra Times
