Mortimer, who spent nearly a decade in the NRL system across four clubs, backed Peter V'Landys and his men to make the return possible and said it could be a significant boost to morale across the country.

"It's also good for people's well-being, it'll be good for people to be able to see their favourite teams running around and cheer them on," he said.

"It's nice to know they're fighting for the sport and care about getting it back out there."

However, he knows bush footy is a drastically different kettle of fish to the big league, and doesn't expect a flow-on to groups across the state.

"It's a different situation, they're going into isolation and we can't do that out here," Mortimer said.

"Them going back is a small step, but from what I'm hearing the social things will be the last thing to go back.

"It's a positive step and I'm holding out hope, Australia's been tracking pretty well and if we keep going out well maybe we'll get on the field but I'm not reading too much into the NRL's decision for out here."

Mortimer said he wasn't a fan of conferences, as some proposals have indicated could be on the cards, saying the US-style system wouldn't work in Australia.

"I'm not a fan of conferences, there aren't enough teams to do conferences well," he said.

"If they can play two conferences I don't see why they can't play one.

You want the two best teams playing in the grand final and the winner of each conference might not be the one. "

While he was surprised to see a date in May proposed, but if the league could get all the safety measures ticked off he backed V'Landys and the other administrators in - and expected his former teammates to as well.

"Having spent a lot of time around some of those boys I know they'll be itching to be back out there. They should be running around in front of thousands of people, not sitting at home in isolation," he said.

"I think they'll be looking to play, and it's their job, too. If that means moving to support their families I don't think too many parents would turn that down."

While he had an inkling players had been told footy would be back earlier than expected when the players took just two months pay earlier in the year - "I don't think they would have done that if they hadn't been told it'd be back soon" - he certainly didn't expect a May date for the competition to resume.

There have been calls across the sporting and political landscape the NRL's decision sends the wrong message, but Mortimer disagrees.

"I don't think so, if they can get it ticked off and they can make it safe then they should go for it," he said.

They were the last sport to spot and now they're aiming to be the first one to get going again.

Mortimer admitted there was plenty to tick off, but the boost - to players, to club staff and the entire football industry from physios to media and everyone in between - would be much needed alongside the morale boost to football fans across the country.

He said everyone would love seeing footy back on the screens - almost as much as he and his teammates would love to be back on the park themselves.