This was no more evident during the NRL's enforced lockdown by coronavirus, which saw the Albion Park-Oak Flats product and his Sydney Roosters forced to train on their own for close to a month.

"Although the past few weeks have been tough, it's given me a greater appreciation of just how lucky we are to do what we do for a living and train alongside some of your best mates each day," Hutchison said.

"As footy players, you spend most of the year either training or playing and the small amount of time you do get off, you're still living that fast-paced life.

"It has been really nice to slow down, take a few deep breaths and do activities I wouldn't normally get the chance to.

"I definitely won't be taking footy for granted anymore, that's for sure."

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The Group Seven junior, during the raining hiatus, did plenty of home workouts while also heading to Centenary Field for a number of fitness sessions, to ensure he returned in top condition.

"Before we broke as a team, the club, to ensure we could manage while we were at home, gave as any gym equipment we wanted and we didn't lose all our progress from pre-season," he said.

"It was also good to go back to the old stomping ground and take part in some gruelling fitness sessions with some former Eagles teammates.

"Admittedly, the first two weeks at home, it was a little hard to stay motivated, but once that return to training date was set, it gave me that little bit of extra drive to push myself - a developed a really solid routine.

"Especially as we were reporting back to our coaches, every day or two, in regards to our weight and how our bodies are feeling, along with weekly Zoom chats to discuss our training.

"From a mental perspective, with me being off contract at the end of the season, I was worried we might not get any more footy, which would prevent me from proving my worth - that was the hardest part.

"However, one thing I've tried to concentrate on is not giving energy to things you can't control. I speak to Adam Clune (a fellow Eagles product who plays for the Dragons) every day and he's massive on that approach as well."

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The creative halfback, who has eight NRL games (four with the Dragons and four with Roosters) to his name, and his side finally returned to Moore Park for training this week.

"Obviously there are pretty strict rules put in place by the NRL at the moment, so we spent most of Monday and Tuesday getting our heads around them," Hutchison, who captained the club at the recent NRL Nines, said.

"We discussed how, as a club, we are going to make the most of this unique situation.

"One rule that is a lot different to the rest of Australian society is our movements away from training - we aren't allowed to have any visitors at our places or go anywhere except our place of residency or the grocery store.

"This has allowed us to train for longer, as we don't have to try and squeeze sessions in because there's nowhere else we can really go.

"Right now, as a competition, we are trying to stay one step ahead but when more restrictions are eased around the country, I dare say ours will be too."

On Wednesday, Hutchison and his 29 Roosters teammates, which included Kiama juniors Josh and Brett Morris, restarted field sessions, in three groups of 10.

"So far, we've just been split into three even groups and have been working on three different areas of the ground, before rotating through stations," he said.

"Training as a group is a lot more enjoyable than constantly training by yourself - it's great to just be around the boys again.

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"There hasn't been any easing into it, as all the coaches had an expectation that we'd come back in great shape, which we would have been in any way, if not for this enforced break.

"We all know the standards at the club and are ready to keep working on the goal that we started on at the beginning of the season."

When the two-time reigning premiers do return to the field, expected to be on May 28, they will be searching for their first win of 2020 - following losses to Penrith and Manly-Warringah (neither which involved Hutchison).

"To be honest, no one has mentioned our start and although it's probably in the back of everyone's minds, there are some really good signs during those first two matches," the 25-year-old said.

"Our defence was really good but just a little off in attack - these next couple of weeks will give us a chance to sharpen that up.

"On top of that, we're all looking forward to resuming contact work (scheduled to restart this weekend) and get out bodies physically ready to withstand those hits and the workload.

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"At the club, there's a real emphasis on training and ensuring every single person in the group is ready to step up if called upon, myself included.

"Even though I didn't play the first two games, as I was playing Canterbury Cup (with North Sydney) which has now been cancelled for the year, I'm determined to put my best foot forward and be prepared if the coaches call my number."