Coaching a Group Nine side at 23 was always going to be a challenge, but few could have been prepared for what Hayden Ashcroft is facing.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The new Kangaroos mentor is trying to work out how best to handle the coronavirus crisis at his new club.
However given the current restrictions he isn't set on playing at all.
"I find it hard to believe it will go forward in terms of they've locked NSW Cup and all those representative things in Sydney away from the year," Ashcroft said.
"That's not to say it is still not possible, but there is just so much uncertainty about it all."
NSW Rugby League have banned all competitions and training until at least May 1, but chief executive David Trodden is confident community sport will be able to return in some form this year.
However Ashcroft believes the lack of information only makes things harder.
"I'm keen on getting things under way but also there are bigger things than football, people's health, so I'm not sure what Group Nine is going to do and when they are going to make a decision by," he said. "It is hard as they haven't said it is not going forward, they have left everything in limbo.
"It is also hard from them to put a date on it and it is a week-by-week thing."
The NRL have announced they plan to restart their competition on May 28 and the 23-year-old believes having a date for Group Nine would make things easier for all involved.
"Everything is so uncertain so that would be a bit more uncertainty and something to look forward to," he said.
"Even a shortened comp, or shortened rounds I'm not that phased on much as I'm quite happy just to be playing football whether it is nine rounds, less or more it wouldn't change the approach we had."
Kangaroos haven't set in place very structured plan for players to train at home.
Instead they are looking to leave things up to individual to best prepare themselves.
Ashcroft admitted the current climate makes it hard to prepare with so much still unknown.
"It just comes down to the individual and whether they want to keep themselves fit," he said.
"Some people find it hard to motivate themselves as individuals opposed to a group and not being able to train as a group is also quite difficult.
"I've even found it hard myself to find momentum to keep going with things training by yourself and not many of boys are too keen on just running.
"It is pretty difficult and I wouldn't imagine too many of them would have been doing too much but I'm pretty sure a lot of them would be pretty keen for a decision so they can get back into it."
READ MORE