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We obviously enjoy outstanding support here in Newcastle and we get some of the best crowds in the competition.

It's a privilege for us to run out each week and represent them.

But it seems as if for the immediate future we aren't going to be able to have spectators at our matches, and we'll be playing in empty stadiums.

We got a taste of that when we played Wests Tigers in round two at Leichhardt Oval, and a lot of people have asked me what it was like, and how do I think we'll cope if we have to play the rest of the season behind closed doors.

Naturally we want our fans back ASAP, but to be honest there was something pretty special about the whole experience at Leichhardt that day.

It was just you and your mates out there playing footy, like we were kids again down at the park.

If you think about it, that's why we all started playing in the first place. Because we love the game and we enjoy the mateship that comes from team sport.

So if that's what we have to do for the rest of the season, it won't make it any less meaningful for me.

I'll be going out there with my mates each week to help them win games and represent our club and our community the best we can.

The other thing about playing without crowds is it means all teams are on a level playing field.

Everyone knows that in normal circumstances the home team enjoys an advantage.

Most of the fans in the stadium are cheering for them and players can tap into that energy.

The home crowd also puts pressure on the referees and usually that means the 50-50 calls are favourable for their team.

On the subject of referees, there has been a lot of talk that the NRL is going to revert from the two-ref system back to one man.

I'm not sure that's a great idea, because without that extra pair of eyes on the field teams might start looking to bend the rules, especially by slowing down the ruck.

But if that's what the NRL decides, so be it. We can't be worrying about stuff that is outside our control.

All we can do is get on with it and make the most of whatever situation we have to deal with.

It's easy to see from our first full week back in training that the guys are still fully focused on the job at hand.

Nobody has taken the easy option during our six weeks in isolation.

The high-performance unit gave us some really good programs to follow and it seems like all the boys ticked every box.

Every week we had to send in a photo of our weight on WhatsApp, so there was no hiding.

We kept each other accountable.

Everyone was pretty spot-on with their weight and did the work that was required.

Last week, when we were cleared to regroup for the first time since March 23, we had to keep our distance, but on Monday we were able to have a bit of a hug and it was pretty cool.

There were a few cobwebs, but it was good to get out there and get some contact again.

Last week we did a lot of testing with our running, and some off-the-ground sort of stuff, and everyone just ate it up.

Then on Monday we got back to more footy-related stuff, like our movement and our structures.

The first couple of games back are going to be really interesting.

We won't be playing any trials or anything so players will be still getting their game fitness.

There might be a few games with blowout scores if teams are making errors and turning over the ball.

So the first three or four rounds, it will probably show where everyone is and it's important that we hit the ground running.

After starting the year with two wins, we've been back and had a look at what we've done well and what we need to improve.

We don't know who we're playing yet, but it's exciting to think we could be back on the field in two weeks.